Just Checking in

Well we are on day 4 of 6 at the beach.  We are having a good time just being together.  I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and will get things cranked up next week.  God has some things for me to do this next year and I can't wait to share them with you.  Well, the fam is waiting for me to come play dominos.  I will talk to you later with pics from the trip.  Have a Happy New Year!  Love you all!

My Christmas Surprise

Merry Christmas to you all!!!  I could not help but jump on here really quick and post about my Christmas surprise.  My wonderful husband of 11 years got me what I have wanted for as long as I can remember.  This!

Thank you my man!  The tears this morning only reflect the fact that you "Got me!"  The longer we are together the more and more I love you!   

Merry Christmas!  I Love You!!!!!!!! 

I Wish You a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

I know, I know, I know!!! It has been a while. The last few weeks like most of you have been CRAZY. Things are finally beginning to slow down just in time for Christmas. I have been busy with Christmas musicals, parties and everything else. I am looking forward over the next few days to reflect about the real meaning of this season. Tomorrow we will have go to a candlelight Christmas Eve service, then Christmas day spend time with family. Friday we will pack and on Saturday we will go to the beach for a few days. Yes, God finally provided that much needed vacation. God has been SO good to us this year. He provided money and a way for us to go out of town for a few days.

Just remember to make time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. That God sent His one and only son to earth to save us all. From our family to yours, The Woottens wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I will try to check in while we are gone to the beach. But if not, See you in the new year!!!
Love,

My Ornaments

Before I start, I just want to say thank you to Patty for coordinating the Siesta Ornament Exchange.  It has been a blast to get to know my Siesta Lisa.  She has been a great encourager and I have enjoyed getting to know her.  

Here is what she sent me: 

That sweet gal sent all my children an ornament as well as my husband.  Thanks again Lisa!!!  I hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I Promise

I know I said that yesterday I would post some pics, but Chara has had an asthma flair up so she has been home this week.  Hopefully she will go to preschool tomorrow and our life can get back to normal, whatever that is!  Anyway, I didn't want you to think that I lied and didn't get those photos up, I just haven't had time.  I hope your week is going well!!!  Love you All!

Just Checking in

Today was a great start to the Christmas season.  We sang a few Christmas hymns in church, and Jamie will actually let me play Christmas music in the house.  All of our decorations are up at the house, and I must say they look nice.  

The Williston Christmas parade was today. We had a great time!  Our float even won first place.  I will post some pics tomorrow.  

I couldn't end this post without shouting: It is Official!!! Gators vs Sooners for the National Championship.  Now the only questions is will Tim Tebow win the Heisman again????

A New Favorite!

Since Noah has begun his love of Tim Tebow, I must say that I find myself turning into somewhat of a Gator fan myself.  We spent the afternoon watching the SEC championship game.  What a game!!!  Hey, at least they are winning!!  

All I have to say is GOOOO GATORS!

Is She 9 Already????

I hope you have all had a great weekend and had a great time with friends and family as well as did some great shopping!!!!  The best thing that happened over the weekend was that my Kaylee girl had a birthday.  Yesterday she turned 9.  I cannot believe that it has been 9 years since she was born.  The old cliche is true," They DO grow up too fast."

My Kaylee girl, you are turning into a great young lady.  Hold close to Jesus.  Trust Him always and know that you can always trust me and your Dad.  We love you very much and are so proud of you!!!  Our family would not be the sane without you!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! 

FYI

If any of you are into NASCAR and are a Jeff Gordon fan, a friend and I are selling some signs that can be illuminated. We have one listed right now on Ebay. Click here to see it. If you are interested or want more info, email me. Have a great day.

A Great Day!

I hope you all had a great weekend and are gearing up for the BIG weekend! We had such a great day at church on Sunday. It was homecoming and the first time for us eating in the new building. I wouldn't know exactly how the eating went because one of my children woke up throwing up on Sunday morning. I did the music and fixed us a plate and ate at home with them. There were over 100 people and everyone really enjoyed themselves. Check out this video we showed. Jamie beat me to the punch so it is on his blog. It is a little long, but well worth your time. Have a great rest of your day!

A Thanksgiving Classic

We have been playing Christmas music in our house and it is about to drive my husband CRAZY!!! He refuses to listen to it before Thanksgiving. This post is just show that I do love all things Thanksgiving. Wanted to post Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving song, but too many bad words. Cliff and Theo will just have to do! BTW, I do just like Christmas more!

Just Checking In

I know all 2 of my faithful blog readers have been wondering where I have been. Well, just busy I guess. I am ready for the short week next week and of course all the shopping!!! Over the weekend I did get a bladder infection Yeah!!! For any of you who have had one, you know the agony and needless to say, I did not feel much like doing anything, but I persevered and ended up at the "Doc in the Box" after church on Sun. Thank the Lord I am on the way to recovery. Just a side note, if you have a Publix in your area, the offer FREE generic prescriptions on certain antibiotics. MY doctor graciously prescribed me one of them!!!

Anyway, Friday Jamie and I were supposed to go to the high school playoff game, but it got rained out so we went on a semi-date night. I say semi because we went computer shopping for Jamie a new laptop. I would post a great pic of the new equipment, but our camera died. The battery compartment cover crumbled. It is 5 years old and we cannot complain, but I do not know what I am going to do without a camera! You can click here to see Jamie's post on it.

Just to close, I am participating in the Siesta Ornament exchange(if you want to know what that is click the banner on the sidebar.) I have been hooked up with a great gal from California. She is a great gal, and I have enjoyed getting to know her via email and blog. She sent me an e-card today that had the verse "Be still and know that I am God." That hit me like a ton of bricks. Especially when you wake up to discover red crayon all over the clothes in the dryer, a few days ago your camera breaks and oh yeah, Christmas is coming and how are we going to get gifts? I could go on and on, but God spoke in His still small voice to me saying, it's okay, I will take care of it!! I am so glad that God gives us those little reminders that He is God and as I heard on the radio the other day, that, "God has the ultimate bailout package. All the resources are His." Thanks for checking in, I will try to do better updating this week! Have a great day!

It's Better to Give...

I am so proud of my kids. Monday when I came home from taking HB to dance, Kaylee was outside in the dark with the rake. Before you call DSS, Jamie was out in the new building where this week they are putting in the electrical work. She proceeded to tell me that she and her brother were raking up the church yard. I told her, "You know you aren't going to get anything for doing that right?" To that she replied,"I know." (Keep in mind that most of the time this is the child who is always looking out for herself first.) She then said, "Big people do things for the church why can't us kids." To that I replied, "Well carry on then." They finished gathering all the leaves on Tuesday so I had to snap some photos.
We have so much to learn from our children. How many times have I only done something because of what it was going to get me in return. We have been trying so hard to work on the selfish attitude with Kaylee, and maybe just maybe we have had a turning point. Will she always do it, no, but it is a gigantic step in the right direction. We could all learn a lesson from the leaves this fall. Do you know someone who needs their yard raked? Why not as a family get out there and rake their yard. What an example of serving others. I promise it will speak volumes!!!!

Lessons Learned

God showed me something profound in my quiet time this morning. I try to read a Proverb a day and I felt like I should read something else as well and God led me to the book of Philemon. God showed me a little truth in verses 4 and 5.
Listen to this, "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints."

That phrase,"I hear about your faith" struck me this morning. Can others say that about me, that they hear about my faith? As I have now launched into Facebook and am making contact with people from high school and college can they say that they have heard about my faith. Am I making every effort to use my blog and Facebook to encourage and share my faith with those who choose to read it?

We as Christians are called to bring Jesus wherever we go even onto our blogs, Facebook, My Space, Youtube or wherever we go in cyberspace and the real world. Can you honestly say today that people hear about your faith? For me it is sometimes but I want my answer to be honestly be yes!! Will you take Him WHEREVER you go? Let's hold each other accountable.

This is my prayer today. "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brothers(and sisters), have refreshed the heart of THIS SAINT." (Philemon 6-7 emphasis mine)

Frustrated with Facebook

Friday night while Jamie was at the Williston-Elko game, I decided that I wanted to try Facebook that everyone is raving about. Well, I am not all that thrilled. Yes it is a neat way to catch up with everyone. One of my college roommates said she has been looking for me on there and was glad that I finally got on there. Anyway, I was trying to make a photo album of the kids and every time I try to add photos to the album, it closes the entire browser. I have doe this several times and it is just so frustrating. I want to be able to have photos up there, but if it keeps this up, I will have to give up on Facebook. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! I hope you all had a great day!
Until then, I will remain frustrated with Facebook.

God Stop Friday

It's Friday again, and already November. I can't believe it. I love fall. The trees seem to be more vivid this year, or maybe it is just me taking time to notice. Thanks to Patty for helping us to take time out to remember what God has taught us this week.

God has shown me this week that He is in total control. This was the week to get things together for the new budget year at church. I was so looking forward to getting a raise. We got one but are putting the entire amount into retirement. I am thankful that we can do that because as of now we have nothing. The money has just never been there. Anyway, I always look forward to a little breathing room in the budget, but it will not come this year. We will just continue to spend every cent every month but that is okay. Even if we end up with $5 left over we at least had something.

God is just showing me that I need to be content and allow Him to work it out. If I do my part God will make up the difference. After all, He is the ultimate banker. Thank you God for continued provision for my family. Help me to make wise decisions financially. I 'm Believing You!

The Day After

Well it is over and we have a new president. I must admit that I have had so not so good feelings about him. After I went to LPM blog today, I must say that I have my head screwed on right now. Yesterday I just added a link to the blog but today it was so good that I just pasted it on mine. I honestly could not say it any better. Please as Beth Moore states in the last part of her post. Pray for the Obamas. Pray for their salvation and that God will give him wisdom as he leads our country. I hope you I am not the only one who gets a tail kicking after reading this.

"To my beloved Sisters who I esteem so highly and consistently find to be part of the solution to our problems in the Church rather than the cause,Please join me in praying for our President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his precious daughters, Sasha and Malia. Go with me before the Throne of our sovereign God and ask Him to grant wisdom from above to President-elect Obama and the indwelling presence and power of Jesus Christ.

In the words of the Apostle Paul, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior..."

Please also join me in the active and deliberate pursuit of unity and purity in the Body of Christ at this historical time in our country. I implore you in Jesus' Name to have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party-affiliation, color (whether you are Black, White, or Brown), economics or the like. Disagreement is not sin. Prejudice is. Satan has plotted events and planted attitudes that, should he be successful, will result in havoc. We must not stand for his schemes or cooperate in a single way. We would severely displease God and invite untold chastisement upon Christ's Church in our nation. Speak clearly to your children and graciously but emphatically draw a line in your work places and social circles regarding your stand against prejudice of any kind."Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" (Matthew 12:25) A united house stands. A divided house falls. The devil has much to gain. But he also has much to lose.We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.I humble myself before you and make these pleas under such bold direction of God that I could not resist it nor disobey it. He made it a fire in my bones.I love and esteem you so much. Shoulder to shoulder,

Dear Siestas. Let's leave not one inch for the enemy to come between us."Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder." Zephaniah 3:9" Beth Moore on the LPM blog Wednesday, Nov. 5 2008.

History Will be Made

Today, history will be made. Even if we don't agree with who is running or what they stand for, it is our duty as Americans to go vote. Even if we have to grin and bear it, we still must do it. So, if you haven't voted today, go do it. Take your kids with you as we did. Help them understand the privilege it is, and that one day they will have the opportunity. For some today isn't a great day but I think Beth Moore says it best on her blog today. Go check it out. I cannot say it any better.

What a Week!!!!

Sorry I haven't been around a lot lately, but last week was our Fall Festival, and soccer and our last co-ed softball game. Needless to say something had to give and blogging was it. What have I missed? Anything big? I am posting a few pictures of the kids in their costumes and I will post more about my week later. I hope your first week of Nov. goes well. Sorry to all you Tennessee fans, I have a feeling Mississippi State will not be far behind you!

Tim Tebow and Indiana Jones of course

A cowgirl, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz & Miley Cyrus

Sheer Joy

Friday night we went out for Family Night. It has been a while so we were all ready. We went to a local town that has a new Book a Million. We sat and the kids [played with the Thomas the Train set, read some books and we just hung out. It was GREAT!!! Somewhere they found a Jack in the Box. And I guess that Jarrett has never seen one before. We had so much fun watching him play with it. The great hing about this video is that this was about his 10th time to do this and this was still exciting and new. (I took this with my cell phone so the quality isn't great.)

How like Jarrett we are(or we should be) when we see God do something great in our life. At first it seems scary, but then we laugh and enjoy then moment. We had a moment like that at church today. Jamie's laptop has been dying a slow and painful death. Over the last year or so, he has had it repaired several times. This past week the screen went out and he lugged in the desktop monitor to it so he could work. The treasurer stood up today and asked the church to vote to buy Jamie a new one. And they said yes. Only Jamie and I had talked about him just getting a new one. Know one else but God even knew we had that conversion. This was a scary moment at first when we did not know what he was going to say and then it turned to shear joy.

Thank you God that You alone supply our needs. Help us to be faithful to thank you and to enjoy the moments when we see you! Help remind me that serving you should never get old. Everyday is a new day and a new adventure with You. You are mighty to save and will move the mountains for us! Thank you Jesus for your provision!

God Stop Friday

It'd Friday and you know what that means! Time for God Stop hosted by a great gal Patty.
This week has had it's ups and downs I am not going to lie. Most of all, I have seen me pour my heart out in prayer over some things and seen Him answer. Some in ways I am thrilled with and some that I am not, but that's okay at least He is letting me know that He is listening when I talk to Him. God is so very interested in every area of our life and I think it thrills Him when we bring big and small requests to Him.

I will end this God stop with this photo. Look closely, what do you see? To some a shadow, to others a building and to others you see the cross on the side of the new building that God is going to use in great ways! In order to put this building up, we had to move a power pole over where it is directly behind our house. Every afternoon this is what happens to the side of the building. It will be a constant reminder to us that God is totally in control of that building, our church and our life.

Have a GREAT weekend and be on the lookout for God. I bet it won't take you long to find Him!!!!

Poor Indy

Well Indy(Indiana Jones aka Jarrett) has had a casualty. His NaNa...aka Ms. Donne who is a lady from our church whose family has adopted us. She treats my kids like they are her grandchildren. Since Jamie's parents are dead, this is the kids other set of grandparents... back to the story... She took him with her on a field trip today with her other granddaughters school and there was a petting zoo. Jarrett was minding his own business when the ferocious miniature horse bit him on the fingers(they are the ones that are dangling in the photo.) NaNa said that he set in her lap for a long time and then he was fine. If you guys don't know, Jarrett LOVES Indiana Jones, and Ms. Donne saw this wooden gun in the gift shop and bought it for Jarrett. Ever since he came home, he has not let that gun out of his sight. AS we speak, he is sitting on the couch watching The Temple of Doom holding that gun. All in all I think Indy had a good day in spite of his injury what do you think?!

Our Little Soccer Star

Mia Hamm better watch out because our Kaylee Jane is on the way! Kaylee has wanted to play soccer FOREVER and tonight her dreams came true. She played in her first ever game, and I must say that she did an AWESOME job. She almost scored a goal. It does help that at 8 almost 9 she is the oldest on her team, but hey, you can't help it if you are just that good (LOL) :)

Here are a few pics and I mean a few. Our camera is on its last leg so especially at night, this is as good as it gets! Enjoy my little soccer star! Don't stop until you reach your goal!!!! I love you!

This Says It All

This video shows everything that happened this week. What a great testimony in song. Please take time to watch it, I promise, you won't be disappointed!

We Have Walls!!!

The Construction Workers

The first day of construction was GREAT!!! They got a lot done as you can see from the pictures, but the only problem was those construction workers! I'm not sure how they got so much done!!!

More updates later!