Pastorette's Progress

How about those cute boots!! Well, it is the Sunday before Christmas and I am staying with my mom who had her fifth chemo treatment Friday. My family just stopped by in their Christmas best - they are beautiful. As I am sitting here reflecting on how much my life has changed during the past year, it is mindbloggling . The most changes, however, have occurred with Bailey. We almost wear the same size (I did lose about 15 pounds this year!!...and she found them - mostly in her boobs!!!). We wear the same size shoes now and at first, I didn't handle it too well when every time I looked down (or went to look for MY shoes) there they were... on her feet. I would be furious, but as of late, I have decided to embrace this time and enjoy it - share my shoes, my sweaters, MY PANTYHOSE that she can only wear ONCE without ripping. I have to learn to enjoy my teenager. When I do, things are so much better. And really, how much do pant...

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Why is that?? This verse sums up where I have been these last couple of weeks. Doing what I KNOW I shouldn't and not doing what I should. And believe me, I am reaping what I am sowing. I know the importance of my morning quiet time; I know the importance of reading God's Word; I know the importance of my prayer journal, but yet night after night I stay up too late watching T.V. Why do I care so much about The Biggest Loser and NCIS???? (Even though Gibbs and Tony are precious!!!!) I'll tell you why - MY FLESH and SINFULLNESS!!!!!! Lord, help me not to just realize my sinful choices, help me to change. Help me to remember how it feels to be close to you. Help me remember the importance of my personal relationship with you. Help me remember how much I need Your stre...

1 CORINTHIANS 13 – - A CHRISTMAS VERSION - By an unknown author If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child.Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the wa...

God never ceases to amaze me. For the longest time, I have always written my prayers - mostly in a list fashion. But in the last couple of weeks, the Lord has allowed me to read two books that have completely changed my perspective on a "prayer journal." The first began in a Christian fiction book, The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. In the story, the main character is reading a distant relatives journal - her heartaches, concerns, her coming to Christ, etc., and throughout the story you see how the two lives parallel as well as see the hand of God in this woman's life. It got me to thinking how much I would love my kids, my grand kids, to read about MY walk with Christ - the good, the bad, and the ugly and the hand of God in it all. I want my kids to know how much I prayed for them. I want them to know that God was with me even through the tough times. I want them to know that I relied on Christ every single day. I want them to understand God's grace and mercy a...

FOR TODAY Monday, November 30, 2009 Outside my window ... it is storming!!! I am hearing ... the kids at my school practice for their Christmas program. I am praying for ... direction and guidance for next, healing of Alec's autism, and self-control for Bailey I am remembering ...how much easier it was when I didn't have to get the kids out of the house in the morning everyday for school. I am wearing ... black pants that make me look very skinny and a pink sweater and black dressy flip flops!! I am going ... to Lowe's and maybe Target after school - depending on the weather I am hoping ...to beat my record in the Reindeer run on Friday night!!! On my mind ... my relationship with Christ, making my home a haven, my kids relationship with each other, my church, my friends who are struggling with the same things I am struggling with, my mom's cancer, money... Noticing that ...God's grace is sufficient every single day, He is Sovereign, and He is the Peace that passe...

I am just beginning to realize why in my old age I am becoming so much more somber. A pleasant way to say it would be sober minded!!! It is because I have two children in middle school and our lives are forever changed. Changed, first and foremost, because my daughter will never again be a little girl. She is now a teenager and we can never go back. All the missed opportunities are just that...missed. Her desires are changing, her attitude HAS changed, and all I can do is hope and pray that the Lord draws her to Himself sooner than later, and that she wholeheartedly gives her life to Christ. For my son Alec, things are a little more complicated. His autism shows up so much more now that he is in middle school. In changing classes, in fitting in, in sports, etc. He will never be the cute little non--verbal kid that acts a little quirky. Now he is a 12 year old boy who truly stands out as being different, that people have to more tolerate, than try to understand. The world is a whol...

I am reading this book by a fellow blogger, Joanne Heim , and I am trying desperately to apply these principles to my life. This sections is pretty easy because God has blessed me with so many godly friends!!! Believing Friends - This section is talking about being "unequally yoked" in regards to friendships. A "simple" friendship begins with a believing friend. Proverbs 27:17 "...Iron sharpens iron..." I want believing friends who will sharpen me, who will challenge me and gently help me to see those things in myself that need to be changed. I want friends who will challenge me to continue to grow in Christ. I want friends who are walking down the same path, not pulling me in another direction. I want friends whom I aspire to be like. And as importantly, I want friends that Bailey will admire and emulate. I know the day is coming...I mean really, the day is here, when Bailey (my daughter) will seek advice from other people. I know that Bailey will not alw...

FOR TODAY(November 16, 2009) Outside my window...well, actually I am in my classroom with no window. That being said, I am looking forward to next year at this time when I will be at home looking out the window and hopefully it will be a beautiful fall day like it is today!! I am thinking...of how blessed I am as well as what we are going to do over the Thanksgiving break. I am thankful for...my church and its heart for missions and the fact that I had a part in helping to raise $8,000 for an orphanage in China. From the learning rooms...I am constantly learning as I read, talk with other women, and watch and pray From the kitchen...I am thinking of how tired I am of cooking and wishing someone would invite us to dinner!! I am wearing...gray pants (size 8-which is really good for me!!) and a blue top and black flip flops. I am creating...a game plan for homeschooling for next year. I am going...to the library after school then home to catch up from the weekend. I am reading...Living Si...

Well, this past Sunday, I feel for the first time like I have an actual direction for my book/Bible Study. I would like to share my story as well as point people to Christ using the fruits of the Spirit. What other way can a mom or other care giver raise an autistic, ADHD , or other disabled child, or a "normal" child for that matter than with the fruits of the Holy Spirit?? We need love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness , gentleness, and self-control EVERYDAY!!! We need an intimate relationship with Christ to possess these fruits in the first place, but then we need to seek God's grace, mercy, help, etc. daily to have these fruits manifesting in our daily lives. I know first hand how important these "fruits" are in raising my kids, and I know there are days that I fail miserably. But praise God His ways are not our ways and He forgives us 70 times seven, and we have another day to try again. I have two main goals before I turn 40 (I...

As I sit here writing today, with the aspirations of writing some type of material to share my story, Alec has just turned 12 and Bailey is 13 and somewhat of a recovering ADHD teenager. When I began to think back to how we got here - stories, experiences , etc. I am realizing that I am forgetting the details. That makes me very sad because it is in the details where I see the hand of God most. In the little triumphs is where I see God's blessing. It is in the trials and hard times that I remember His grace and mercy...where I learned about His grace and mercy...and I don't want to forget how we got here because I never want to forget that feeling of being utterly dependent on God.

I am toying with the idea of writing "something" and would like to use this blog as a sounding board. My main focus is our life with autism - how it affects each member of my family as well as how I am able to see God's grace everyday through autism. I want to talk about how we got where we are today, our struggles everyday, and my walk with Christ. I want this to be a Christ centered project full of scripture and through this book, I want my relationship with Christ to grow stronger and stronger. Our lives have been touched so much because of Alec and I want people to know that all things do work together for good to those that love God - even when at times we feel defeated and lost, when I stand back and look at the big picture, I see God every time. We have come so far and I know we have so much farther to go. As a pastor's wife, teacher, and mother of an autistic son and a semi recovering ADHD daughter, I marvel everyday of where I would be without my Lord ...

I had the opportunity to attend a Woman's Conference at a sister church in our area this past weekend. It was a wonderful study on how God uses ordinary women...ordinary sinful women, like Rehab (and me!!!), to do mighty things for God. One of the neatest points I remember was from Ephesians 2:10. It says, "For we are His workmanship (i.e. masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." He is the Master and we are the pieces!!! It is like our lives are a big puzzle and ONLY God knows what the final picture will look like. We do however, in this life, get opportunities to see His hand at work in our lives everyday. What a blessing when we see the piece of the puzzle fit!! What a mighty God we serve!!

How neat it is when we see the hand of God in our lives! I have been struggling so much these last couple of weeks. Struggling to the point of even questioning my salvation. I kept thinking of the verse, "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much, " and I was constantly praying and feeling like I was getting no answers. Hence my thoughts that I wasn't converted. After spending several weeks having quiet times - reading and praying and doing everything I thought I was supposed to be doing, I couldn't understand why God wasn't doing what I thought He should be doing. Seriously! ( I had a Job moment after he finished complaining to God!!!) - did I really think that God actually owed me for doing what I need to be doing anyway?? That my friend is the power of sin and what can happen when we let Satan affect our thoughts!!! I thought that because my life wasn't getting easier so to speak, that God couldn't hear me. But praise God, He brought me to m...

For Today - April 20, 2009 Outside my window or in my case, my school room door... the sun is shinning and the birds are chirping. It is a beautiful spring day. I am thinking... about the end of the school year and looking forwarded to a simple summer - that is my new philosophy!! I am also thinking about my children, Bailey and Alec, and wondering what the future holds for them. I am thankful for... my family, my friends, and my faith. From the kitchen... I am thinking about what I will cook for my Church family on Wednesday night. This is my opportunity during the week to be hospitable to the people the Lord has placed in our lives to minister to. I am wearing... my favorite color shirt...lime green and tennis shoes because I am down in my back and need the extra support even though it is not very attractive with my black dress pants!! I am creating... hopefully godly children and lasting memories with my fourth grade class. I am going... to the chiropractor today for my back and th...

As I went to church this morning, I went there very defeated. It has been a long week with LOTS of up and downs, and spiritually, I was not where I should have been. During the song service, the Lord got a hold of me like gravy on rice...and I was sincerely broken. Our song service began with the hymn "Because He Lives." That is when the softening began. Because He lives I CAN face tomorrow - even with an autistic son, even with a hurting back, etc. etc. It was all I could do to get the words out without weeping. The next song we sang was "The Power of the Cross" - As I sang that song and really focused on the words, my heart truly began to break and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Here's the chorus - The power of the cross, Christ became sin for us, took the blame, bore the wrath, we stand forgiven at the cross. The chorus alone will do you in when you really focus on what that song is saying. It really put a new light on my petty situation...my pr...

As I continue reading about the Duggar family I am continually amazed at how they live their lives and how they teach they faith to the children. Some may hear about them and think they are a bunch of weirdos, but I say give me weird over worldly any day!!!! I need you to process that this family lives totally debt free and live quite well. What an amazing testimony to praying and seeking God's will for your life. They have convictions, they stick to them, and God honors their endeavors. Wow! Lately,as my husband and I struggle within our own family (and right now we are "struggling" with a hormonal 13 year old who is very impulsive and an 11 year old hormonal autistic son), we have regrets that we did not have a bigger family. He had a vasectomy right after our son was born - our kids are 17 months apart and he didn't want to take any chances. That is a discission we have come to hugely regret. Then 4 years ago I had to have a complete hysterectomy. We have talked of...

As I child I HATED to read, but the older I get the more I read...so at the age of 37, I read A LOT!!! I just began reading a book - The Duggars : 20 and Counting. What a fascinating family!! They took the verse "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them ."(Psalm 127:4-5) VERY SERIOUSLY!! They have 18 kids - Brutal!!! They live in an extreme situation, but they have a lot they can teach us. It is very evident that they love the Lord and desire to honor and glorify Him with everything they do - especially raising their kids. They consider each kid a "gift and a joy." I am going to give some insights as I read this book and hope that in doing so, it will help me to better grasp the concepts as well as minister to anyone who reads this. One point that was made at the beginning of the book was due to a question that asked - "How do you feel about what other people may think or say a...

Well, this is my first official week of blogging. I have spent more time reading others' blogs and even more time trying to figure out how you all do ALL you do. I have read some amazing posts and it does my heart so good to know that in a world that is in such a funk, there are women out there who love and desire to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I read other women's blog, I am so inspired with things I want to do - wake up early, exercise, do crafts with my kids, cook, read, read, and read some more, be more organized, appreciate God's grace and mercy more, sit at His feet more, serve more, Study God's Word more, appreciate my blessings more - that one is a biggy -,be a better wife, be a better friend, be a better daughter, be a much better mom, be a better preacher's wife, etc., etc. My problem is my "life" keeps getting in the way. Or should I say, I keep letting my life get in the way. I frustrate myself so much by knowing what I need to...

I am new at this whole blog thing, but I think it is such a great way to share what the Lord is doing in my life. Also, it is amazing to see all the normal, real life godly women out there who are striving to be the kind of women God has called us to be. It does my heart good to read and know that there are so many women out there who really "get it"!!! In Christ Alone. Kayce

Since I first started this blog a lot has changed in my family. The changes came about because for the first time in my daughters school life (she is in the 7 th grade), she is completely off her ADHD medicine. And my son, who has autism, is now fully off of his medicines. It has been a looooooong couple of weeks, but God is Sovereign, and we have come so far. I have had such a peace. The situation with Alec is a little more difficult because his disability is more extreme, but we are definitely making progress. But Bailey...the best way I can describe her is in a few short weeks she has gone from a caterpillar to a butterfly - a beautiful butterfly. Now, don't misunderstand, she is still 13 and can be quite brutal -ha ha, but she is growing up and maturing right before my eyes. God is so good, and He answers our prayers. We just have to have faith that He knows what is best for us, and even when it is tough, He will never leave us nor forsake us. What a mighty God we serve!!!!

Like a warm cup of coffee: The List Grows...