not to brag but to inspire!

Today is rather a blah day in the King home.   I had plans to attend a new bible study with my friend Tara Head.  But Carley came down hard with whatever Colton had last week.  He's finally better but she has a very soar throat and fever!  It's been an easy day with Carley laid up.  The other two seem to be tired as well so there is not a lot of commotion.

Monday I started Insanity again!  I still have about 5 pounds to lose to be to my goal.  That will  actually be the weight I was when I got married. Although I should look better because I've gained a lot of muscle.  I think even though the scale says I'm not there yet I am in better shape than I've ever been in my life! And my measurements prove it!  I had no idea being fit could feel so great!  I have energy and feel better about myself. I'm telling you this not to brag but to inspire!!!  If I can do this and be motivated than YOU can too!  I for one am NOT a morning person... although the more I get up early and do this the more I enjoy it.  It's kind of my "Mommy time" and if I am really fast I can eat breakfast and read my Bible before they wake up as well.  What a wonderful way to start your day!  If I don't get all that done..I feel as though my day is behind from the moment I get out of bed.  The exercise actually, believe it or not, gives me more energy and motivation to get through my day and accomplish all that I have to get done.

I am still considering becoming a beach body coach. I'd like to make a little money while being a SAHM.  I wanted to make sure I have time for sewing and scrap booking as well... but hopefully it can just be a part time job at first. Also, with being able to do pictures on Shutterfly I wont have to spend near as much time scrap booking all my pictures!

Since Sean has left almost 3 weeks ago.. I think I'm beginning to adjust to a new routine.  I'm getting up earlier, which means the kids get up a little earier as well and we can go to bed at a better time.  Sean comes on skype every morning and every night.  Our time difference is 8 hours... which is weird..Cause when I go to sleep on Friday he's just waking up on Saturday!  I can not imagine what it was like back during WW2 or Vietnam when couples couldn't talk very ofter if at all!!! So, I feel very blessed we have the communication we do.   Even now there are woman who get very short phone calls and short conference calls. That has got to be so hard!!!  They have an awesome program where soldiers over seas can read a book and have it video recorded.  We have received three books with DVD's of Sean reading to the kids!  Colton loves to follow along with him.  And it's great for the others to see him as well.  The skype calls are never very clear.

I miss you babe, your are the world to me and I can't imagine what the day will be like when you return.  I pray for you daily, that you can stay strong and your time will go fast! I have total Faith that Jesus is with you and protecting you.  I am so glad I don't have to worry and carry that weight.

Lord you are amazing... I love you with all my heart and am open to whatever your Will is for our lives.  Thank you for comforting me and giving me peace in this situation.  I thank you for my husband and the sacrifice he is willing to make for our country and our family!  Lord thank you for our three wonderful blessings and the love I have for them and the joy that they bring to this world.  Thank you for comforting them and giving them strength through this separation as well.   I know God that you are our TRUE Father... Help us to always remember it's ALL about you, not just the here and now.   Help us to look to the future and live life to it's fullest.  Help us to grow in Faith and be stronger through everything.  That we may LOVE you more! Give me courage and strength to teach my children and discipline them in a way that is honoring to YOU.   Thank you for giving us life and loving us.  We love YOU Father.  Amen.

Carley's dress for Cowboy Church....

Ok... I bought this really cute jean skirt at the thrift store... and had this cute bandanna fabric and white lace I thought I'd just add on to it... I didn't mean for it to be so long... should I leave it or pull it up and make that bottom layer shorter?  OR>. I could re do the whole thing and make more wavy ruffles!   Also, have to find a cute top to go with it.  She just wanted to where her rodeo shirt for the picture.  I think little red cowgirl boots now would be adorable!

Carley's new Cowgirl outfit

I finally made cookies to put in my jar
that Ashlee made for me....
I love it Ashlee.... Thank YOU!

What does Blessed Mean?

I was feeling so truly blessed today on my baby Stetson's birthday.  I can't even explain the joy I am feeling inside when I count my many blessings. With my hubby soon to deploy I feel as though I need to focus on everything positive in my life.  Without the Lord to remind me of ALL the good ... I would tend to get down easily and pitty myself in the unfairness of life.  I received this in an email this morning from Aunt Eese in Arizona.  Thank you Lisa... for these words of encouragement. 

My happy little blessing........

Blessed

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
— Ephesians 1:3


The word "blessed" is a wonderful word. Christians use the words "blessed" and "blessing" a lot, and most of the time we mean it. There are times when we use it as an expression to terminate a conversation that is going too long. We will say something to the effect of, "Well, that's great. Wow. Hey, praise the Lord and God bless you." This can be translated, "Please stop talking now." That, of course, is not the proper way to use it.

"Blessed" is a Christian word. It is a spiritual word. It is a biblical word. And it has been hijacked by our culture. People may talk about "blessings" in their lives, but the nonbeliever has no idea what a real blessing is, because only the child of God truly knows what it is to be blessed. It is also worth noting that Jesus both began and concluded His earthly ministry blessing people.

So what does it mean to be blessed? The word "blessed" Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount is from the Greek word makarios, which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The Greeks called the Island of Cypress "the happy isle." They believed that because of its geographical location, perfect climate, and fertile soil that anyone who lived on Cypress had it made in the shade. And the term they associated with the island was makarios. They believed everything you needed to be happy was right there on Cypress.

We can't all move to Cypress, but the idea is that our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ.