Good Morning Sunshine!

 

Good Morning Sunshine!!! It could be pouring down raining, but all I see is SUNSHINE.

Now isn't that just the most adorable face? This was taken about five years ago and it is still one of my favorites. It is an exact image of the "Morning-Time Kayla Grace". Oh but in five years that sweet face that is so comical, so funny but filled with so much irritation has GROWN.

After the experience I had last night I slept a different sleep and I really feel like I need to try to get a little more of that as I type this and have my coffee. When I hit my snooze button the first time I fell asleep praising and thanking God for the load lifted from me and the wisdom He shared with me. The second time I hit the snooze button my prayers were a little different. See I know that I only get to hit snooze twice....my prayers were a little like this....

"Oh God PLEASE.....PLEASE.....let me survive this upcoming cage fight."'

When she was at the age she was above, getting her up was like a wrestling match. I was younger and more fit. She's 10 now so it's more like a cage fight and I know without some kind of Divine intervention we will move to the street fight stage in a few years. Five years can do a lot to a person...I'm old. I'm not fit and I need more coffee before I can think these days.

My sweet little dumpling is just not a morning person and she gets that honestly because her Mama is not a morning person either. Her weapons of choice are "I'm sick...don't feel good", crying, sarcasm (NO idea where she got that), dramatics....again clueless where this trait comes from, and my personal favorite "YOU JUST DON'T CARE THAT I'M SICK AND YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT BRAYDEN AND YOU HAVE RUINED MY LIFE!!!!!!" This is all complete with full watery eyes and sometimes the tears roll.

As she fell down with half of her body in the dryer looking for her shorts.....I prayed that maybe God could play a little joke and the dryer turn on. I mean that would be funny right? No...I'm kidding. I just prayed for patience. I went and picked the shorts up that here little fingers were just too weak to hold and then I lifted her from the floor since she was just too weak and sick to pick herself up, I gave her a kiss, told her I loved her and sent her to find her shoes.

As I checked the clock and mentally calculated how long it would be until she would visit the neighbor for the ride to school, I fixed her lunch. I gave her what has become an almost daily reminder not to call me from school unless she has fever, throwing up or passed out. To my surprise I find she already thought ahead and answered me with "I know! Our vehicle is broke so you couldn't even come get me!!" I knew there was a silver-lining to having only one vehicle right now and I smiled. Her eyes bulged at the look on my face and she snatched her stuff and stomped out the door as I screamed "I love you sweetheart! I hope you have a better day. I'll have your bed all ready for you so you can go straight to bed when you get home!" I got a inaudible "Love you too" and door slam.

Aaaaahhhhh....this was a good morning. I love every part and facet of my daughter....even the most irritating morning attitude. I have no plans to get her room ready for her to convalesce because I know as sure as today is Wednesday that as soon as that bell rings this afternoon she will be right as rain. There will be no paralysis, no blindness, no toothache or earache, no tummy ache, no headache......she will be full of energy and theatrics and bless my soul until the sun goes down and she prepares for her next morning.

At times it is very nerve-racking and even embarrassing, but God gave her own unique little personality and he is obviously working overtime on me through her. My last thought  as I sip on my coffee and say my silent prayer for her and her day is that one day, hopefully when she's ready and I'm still of sound mind to enjoy, she's going to have a precious little darling to call her own. Then I pray for her future because that child will really have to be good to out-smart her Mama.

Thank you Lord for my three blessings who all have such unique, but loving hearts. I count each of them as a miracle and I'm so thankful....no grateful....that you have given them to me. I thank you for not only the good and fun times, but I thank you for the trying times. Lord please continue to open my eyes to Your wisdom where my children are concerned and give me the stamina to see them all grow to be God-loving productive people. You get all the glory for everything. In your most precious name.....Amen

The Line

I had an amazing opportunity to attend a one night Lisa TerKeurst Women's Conference tonight at The Church of the King in Mandeville, LA. When I got home I immediately told everyone that I could not talk because I had one of the most amazing experiences in my life. To talk would be to dull the experience....to try to describe it verbally is impossible, In fact, anyone reading this blog may not even get it.....but I got it. God spoke to me so clearly through this amazing Woman of God. I don't know if she will ever know how her words lifted a ton of bricks from my back and helped lighten my soul.

I can tell you that she spoke about a wise woman in Samuel Chapter 20, but what I got was not so much from the scripture as from her analysis and using her own experience to illustrate a point. The TerKeurst family adopted two teenage boys from a third world country. It was not planned nor expected. God put everything in place for them to survive their experience, live in an orphanage then be transported to the United States where they found a home among Lisa, husband and three daughters. Because the boys were on a Kindergarten level she home schooled them with no clue about what she was doing. She was hilarious in her description of this experience. Anyone who knows me....just imagine me trying to do this and that will give you a pretty good visual. In two years the boys were able to transition to either Junior High or High School. The oldest graduated with something like a 2.76 and was so worried and upset that he would not get into the College he wanted with that grade point average. Of course, God worked that out and he WAS accepted. Lisa told how she took him to College and did a prayer walk through his dorm....through the hall....across campus....ALL AROUND the girl's dorm. She reminded him of their family motto: Remember who you belong too. She said he remembered it.....for three weeks. She got the call that he would be suspended because what most College kids participate in....alcohol usage.

At the point that she got the call she was devastated. She said that she wanted to just draw a line straight from her son's mistake straight to herself. She blamed herself for not doing this....or doing that. Maybe if....It plagued her and she carried the grief of her child's trouble and consequences. THEN God showed her that the line that she drew was not drawn correctly. The line should have been drawn from God to HER because He gave her this child. He knew even as Jackson was being formed in the womb that Lisa would be strong enough to take him where he was, get him where he needed to be and certainly strong enough to weather any troubles that he may face.

At that moment I had to cover my whole face to keep the cry that crawled from my heart from becoming completely audible in this huge stadium of a Church. When I say that the tears came....it wasn't just tears....it was the sloppy snorting kind. Thankfully the Lord allowed my tears to flow quietly.

There are no perfect parents or children. When I married  my husband I got a "2 fer".....I gained a precious four year old  little boy. Oh he was the light of my life and still is. I believe my parents became grandparents in their own minds the day they met him for the first time. My brother doted on him so proudly. He was about as close to perfect as could be. He had the best manners.....extremely respectful and smart. He was fortunate enough to have three sets of grandparents as well as three sets of Aunts/Uncles. He never lacked for love and was so free with the love that he gave....especially when his siblings arrived.

Then the teen years hit and they KNOCKED US DOWN! I will be the first to say that I didn't always handle things the way I should have. There are so many things that I wish I could take back or do different. Things went from bad to worst and there was absolute no control over going to school or anything. I think that we alternated from denial...to shock...to anger...to pain....and the cycle continued. No one outside of the home saw what was "actually" happening so we looked like lunatics and were pretty much alone. It was a really bad, bad situation that resulted in him leaving us four days after he turned eighteen, as well as, damaged relationships between us and our families. I, literally thought I would die. I begged to die....it was all too much and I came very close to giving into that desire twice. The loss was almost unbearable.

I'm happy to say that after those very long few years of hell, we have our son back and thankfully other family relationships are mending. He is a fine young man who is making a place for himself in this world and I couldn't be prouder,  but I did exactly what Lisa did. I drew a big THICK line from our son to me and I blamed myself for not being enough or for being too much. I want the best for all of my children, but for him in particular, the responsibility felt heavier because God gave him to me to raise here on Earth while his Mama waited for us with Jesus in Heaven. Although we made it, and things are good that big thick black line remained. Just this week something reared its ugly head from those dark past years. It was just enough to rip my heart up. After talking with my son about it, his heart-felt comforting words and apologies for what took place then were like salve to a burn, but tonight after hearing Lisa TerKeurst's story that nasty line has been erased. It's gone. I no longer have a ripped up, shredded, burned heart.

I get it now and God made sure of it tonight. My line goes from God to Me then to my husband and children because He knows everything that they will experience and go through. God put me with my husband and three beautiful children because He knew I was strong enough to deal with each of them and what they would experience.....just as they would me. There are no words to express the love and gratitude that I have for my husband and children. The Lord blessed me....he has blessed me indeed.

As you go to sleep tonight you may be burdened with issues that you are really struggling with. Maybe it's a child, a loved one, grief or illness. Whatever it may be....just know that the line from God to you is a powerful line because He has put you in your position because you are strong enough, wise enough, and tough enough to deal with anything that comes your way. You are his Holy and dearly loved child. Rest in that.

Tonight I go to bed for the first time in about eight years with no thick black line.

Praise God and God Bless All

The Journey

Let me introduce myself. My name is Melissa Sanderford Snow.....I include that middle name because I'm just as proud of my family's name as my husband's. Many of you may THINK you know me. Maybe you knew me growing up.....maybe you knew me last month, but do you know me now? I'm still a raging book-a-holic, current event monster and obsessed music fan, but I have ended a journey that I began long ago and started a new one. Reaching my destination and choosing my current path has fundamentally changed me more than Obama ever dreamed of fundamentally changing this country.

Let me begin by saying that when I was around 8 or 9 years old, I got "saved" and was baptized. I walked that aisle right along with my friend and cousin at the time. I wanted to get up in that big water tank just like they did, It was the thing to do. I had no true understanding what it all meant, but my Mama was happy and I continued on like I always did. I mean how much change can a 8 or 9 year old make? Then I hit the teen years.

When I was around sixteen years old I went to Church camp in Florida. I almost didn't go because I had run fever all the way up until the time we left. Before I hopped on that bus with dreams of white sand and blue waves my Daddy told me, "If you start feeling bad, call me and I will come get you." We pulled up to this camp and even the chaperons wanted to call my Daddy. The mattresses were stained, the showers were dark and moldy. I didn't see anything resembling white sand.....just some brown mud/dirt with dingy water. I wasn't allowed to call home, which in my mind even now is deplorable and it angered my parents, but it was the best thing that could have happened. After the first two days the shock of our environment was gone and we were totally immersed in JESUS. It was one of the most amazing experiences and although I don't remember the date I can say that at this point I DID accept Jesus as my personal Savior. But sadly I did not grow....I wilted.

Mama had us in Church every time there was an opportunity, but the world is a powerful thing, especially during teen and college years. I sat in Church on Sunday mornings and even sang specials after weekends of having a "good" time. Then at the very young age of 19 I moved half-way around the world and got married. There were no available Churches that I knew of that were not Catholic and they certainly didn't speak English. There was a small group that met on base but after the married "leader" hit on me that wasn't an option. My Bible remained on my nightstand unopened, my prayers stopped and all Godly influence was gone. Living in Belgium was a great experience, but it wasn't worth the chaos, havoc and pain that bombarded my life. After a very rough three years I was divorced and back home.

That was over 20 years ago and since then I met and married a wonderful man, and God has given me three beautiful children. God knew what He was doing when he gave me Shannon and Chris. In some ways they saved me from myself. My focus changed from myself and my problems to them. This is when my journey back to God began. It has taken so long to find my way. I dropped into Churches for a few Sundays, but wondered if there was a better one out there. I have opened my Bible and got on fire and read and studied for a few weeks then quit. I've been lukewarm. I prayed to God for more children and God blessed us with two more, but I didn't keep up my end of the bargain. It's only by His grace and mercy that He hasn't taken any of them from me permanently.

Recently when I walked into True Life Church, I did not know a soul. It was an amazing, comfortable and cozy feeling. After that first visit I was not able to return because my Daddy had two strokes and he became my family's main priority. During this time I woke each morning to see my Mamaw, who was never particularly religious while growing up, having her morning devotions.  During one of the many nights in the hospital, Daddy and I talked about decisions we made and his Salvation. My Daddy hasn't gone to Church in years, but the community Churches had him on prayer lists, visited and did so much to minister to us.All of these things were just more nudges to the right path.

 My thoughts became more consumed with finding the missing piece of my life. I was overwhelmed and stressed beyond belief by many different circumstances. I was so very close to giving up. Thankfully God had placed people in my life whose life changing examples, or words of encouragement to no one in particular through social media, became my life preserver.

When things settled with Daddy I went back to True Life and took my family and this is where you will find us every Sunday morning. I am so happy to say that after so many, many years of wandering aimlessly this journey has come to an end and I have started a new one. I have found my Home and I have also found my Father again.  I am proud to say that Sunday, February 22....I hit my knees at the alter and re-dedicated my life to The Lord, I will follow this decision in baptism on March 8.

So now you know me....the REAL me. I'm still Melissa, daughter of Thomas Sanderford and Bernadette Miller, but I'm also the daughter of a King. I'm not a Christian because I am better than anyone. I'm a very flawed and imperfect individual that needs Christ's constant forgiveness. I will mess up, I will do things wrong....but I have no doubt that my Father will pick me up and dust me off when I fall. He will give me a swift kick when I need to get it together, and he has his loving arms around me when I need comfort.

I'm blessed. I'm redeemed. I'm heaven bound. Thanks be to God.

Cancer as a Blessing

Cancer as a Blessing

By: Squeekie Stoddard Waters

August 28, 2014 at 9:31pm

 

Have you ever thought of Stage IV Cancer as a blessing? Oddly enough after being on an emotional roller coaster ride and learning that I have Stage IV Breast Cancer, that is how I have begun to see this deadly, painful disease. I have witnessed so many acts of kindness, godliness, goodness, and yes, possibly even a miracle or two since I learned that I have this cancer that could possibly end my life within the year. In fact, I'm actually somewhat thankful to have it because I have seen God working in someone that I love very much in a way that only HE can! Whatever the reason is for me to have this cancer and all this pain, I know it's part of God's greater plan. Yes, things may seem horrible right now, but sometimes God uses drastic measures to get our attention and sometimes he uses others to get our attention and sometimes He uses a combination of both. Whatever His plan is, I know it is a perfect plan and I praise Him for it and give Him all the glory for all of it!

I was thinking the other day how it must have been in Jesus's day when He would go from place to place teaching. I was thinking about the people who did anything they could just to get to Him so they could be healed. I can really put myself in their sandals right now. What I'm about to admit is silly and stupid, but it kind of illustrates the point I'm trying to make here. Okay. I'm a big Duck Dynasty fan. I was trying to think of ways that I might could get the Robertson family to pray with me. Then I thought to myself, "Why the Robertsons?" One reason I thought was because of their faith, but then I (got my head out of the clouds) and realized that my faith and the faith of my church family and friends is as good as theirs. Besides, my friends and church family actually KNOW me. I realized then that it must be that "rock star effect". It hit me though. This is probably very much what the people back then must have felt like. Of course I was hoping for prayer with famous Christian people. The people back then were seeking Jesus Christ HIMSELF....the one who could actually perform the miracle for them! I'll blame my lapse of cognitive processing on the pain medicine but it was pretty cool to feel how the people back then may have felt. I would have been just like them seeking out Jesus to rid me of this disease. I guess Jesus was the "rock star" of His time.

I don't know what my future holds for me, but I don't have to know. God knows and that's all that matters. I have recently begun treatment and God is in complete control. I know He is because I have given it all over to Him. Oh sure. I may still have my days of doubt, but it will be doubt of myself or doubt of something "earthly" and not doubt in God. I'm sure I'll be on that roller coaster again, but deep in my heart, I will know He'll be right there with me.

So I choose to see my cancer as a blessing and not a death sentence. I pray for God to use me and use this disease for His glory however He sees fit. My body may be broken and weak, but my faith and my spirit is still very much in tact and has never been stronger. I thank Him for giving me such a strong support system with all of my church family, my friends (face to face and facebook), and my family (the ones that DO care). I thank Jesus for defeating death so that I can LIVE without fear of death.

Stage IV Cancer - a blessing?
Who knew?


NOTE: Squeekie is my friend from High School and College. Although, we have not always been close friends there is no way to know her and not consider her a good friend. She is one of the most positive and upbeat people that I know. She has a passion for issues close to her heart and has such a way with words. She has two grown boys and a young daughter. I haven't met her husband, but he has to be a pretty great guy to be with Squeekie. Please keep her in your prayers as she battles this monster that continues to ravage families on a daily basis. God Bless Squeeks and thank you so much for this message of strength.

Muslim Brotherhood and Homeland Security….Have We Been Infiltrated?

Former CIA agent, Clare Lopez, has accused Obama of allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to infiltrate our National Government. Coming from a former agent who has held many senior positions it would a wise decision, in my opinion, to pay this charge some regard. The fact that she has the courage to speak up while Congress remains quiet is chilling. Congress should stomp to the White House to drag his treasonous tail out the door!

The citizen’s vote is their “power”. In order to exercise this vote we need knowledge. Many have heard about Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s right hand advisor, but what do you know about Mohammed Elibiary a Senior Advisor to Homeland Security? With about forty-five minutes of clicking around I have found more than enough information to make me question WHY this man is an advisor to Homeland Security. WHY do our National Security Advisors have questionable ties to the very people who despise and want to kill us?

According to Homeland Security’s website, this guy is just a dandy little citizen. I’ve posted his bio according to them below.

Mohamed Elibiary, Founder, Lone Star Intelligence, LLC

Mohamed Elibiary is the founder of Lone Star Intelligence, LLC.  He has advised numerous Federal, state and local law enforcement organizations on homeland security-related matters.  In 2009, Mr. Elibiary was acknowledged in a Congressional Research Service report for advising the Information Sharing Environment Program Management Office on the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.  In 2010 he testified before Congress on “Working with Communities to Disrupt Terror Plots.”  In 2011, Mr. Elibiary was awarded the Louis E. Peters Memorial Award, the FBI’s highest public service award for “his extraordinary contributions to specific cases in support of the FBI’s counter terrorism mission.”  In 2012 the Office of the Federal Public Defender, a division of the U.S. Court, recognized Mohamed for his “tremendous service” leveraging his homegrown violent extremism expertise in the United States vs. Daniel Patrick Boyd counter-terrorism case.

Elibiary’s  resume has been wrapped like a nice little package with a beautiful bow, but Elibiary really shows his true nature on Twitter.
 

In June of 2014 Elibiary was receiving a lot of criticism for tweeting that the recent takeover of Iraqi cities by a very violent terror group was proof that a Muslim “caliphate” was making an “inevitable” return
 

 “As I’ve stated b4. Y’all in the [national security] ubber hawks camp misread 9/11 & should reassess ur belligerence,”
 

 In November 2013 a Twitter user challenged Mr. Elibiary to “show me just ONE example of an Islamic country where non-Muslims are treated with equality.” His responding tweet should send chills down the spine of every American.

 “America and yes I do consider the United States of America an Islamic country with an Islamically compliant constitution. Move On!”
 

With all due respect Mr. Elibiary, our country is NOT an Islamic country. Many brave men and women have sacrificed life and limb in order for fellow Americans to keep their heads, for women to have freedom, children to play without fear of being used as human shields. In fact, those same heroes sacrificed for you to freely practice YOUR religion while I practice mine. You may have an ally in the White House, but I doubt very seriously you will find an ally with this sleeping giant….the AMERICAN people.

 

 

Marine Veteran victim of black mob....Hate Crime??

There have been many incidents over the past week that are similar to the situation in Ferguson that did not result in riots or protests, but one that I heard about tonight makes me wonder just what the hell is going on in America.

Saturday night a Veteran Marine, Ralph Weems and Air Force Veteran, David Knighten, attempted to enter a Waffle House in West Point, MS. A patron in the parking lot warned Knighten not to go inside because it was predominately a black crowd and it may not be safe for whites. I have also read other stories that have reported that the group were up-in-arms over the Michael Brown situation. By the time he made it inside Weems was already in an altercation. The cops were called and the two men left. The two men decided to head home, but stopped at a Huddle House that seemed pretty much vacant, only to find that they had been followed by about twenty people from the Waffle House. The chaos escalated and Knighten reportedly tried to diffuse the trouble when a security guard told everyone to leave and go home. As people filed out Knighten found that the door was being blocked and he was prevented from going outside. When he was finally able to get out the door he found Weems on the ground being kicked and beaten. While racial slurs were yelled they turned on him. Knighten reported on a Facebook post that his injuries were minor, but according to www.NOLA.com Weems is in a medically induced coma following brain surgery. One would think that this qualifies as a hate crime, but Sheriff Brinkley states "This does not appear to be a hate crime," he said. "It's very early in this investigation but thus far the evidence and statements suggest that a verbal altercation turned physical and somebody got hurt." At this point I have not seen this hit the national news channels in the manner Ferguson did. I have not seen any protest in the street demanding justice. What is even more appalling to me is the fact that these two guys were VETERANS! They fought for whites and blacks to enjoy the freedoms of congregating in a Waffle House and having the freedom to even have an opinion. Wow....what gratitude!

News of a white cop shooting an unarmed black man hit the news in a flash. Although I was not there when Michael Brown and Officer Darren Wilson's path crossed, I do have enough common sense to wait for the facts before vilifying a cop trying to do his job. Facts started slowly slipping out that Michael Brown had just robbed a store before coming across Officer Wilson, and also that Officer Wilson sustained serious facial injuries. He didn't sustain those injuries from a gentle giant who was peacefully putting his hands up. None of these "slow-to-surface" facts made a difference....they still protested, rioted and looted. The screams for "justice" seem to be equated with "crucify him or else". So if it IS found that this Officer was doing his job and that he had indeed been attacked where does that leave Ferguson? Where does that leave us?

Something is terribly wrong in our nation where wrong is right and right is wrong. Our road is leading to a disastrous destination with our embracing of double-standards and political correctness. These incidents don't need to be fueled with race-baiters and hate, but handled with common sense and level heads. In this very moment we have more issues and problems than most of our older generations have dealt with......AND WITH VERY LITTLE LEADERSHIP. Our American "prefixes" need to be dropped and we need to look at each other as red blooded Americans and not African Americans, Hispanic Americans or White Americans. We need to shut the agitators out and start teaching our children responsibility and accountability so that they may pick up the pieces of what we are now destroying and rebuild this great nation.

We Interrupt this Chaotic World for a Laugh

Hilarious Laws

Things in our world seem so serious these days. I just needed some relief and could not pass up the opportunity to post some of these hilariously DUMB laws.

In Alabama it is illegal to wear a fake moustache in Church that causes laughter. You may also not flick boogers in the wind, not carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket. You CAN drive the wrong way on a one way street as long as you attach a lantern to the front of your automobile.

If you want to practice voodoo in Louisiana you must do it outside of city limits. While driving to the area outside city limits to cast your spells you can let your wife drive, but you must walk in front of her carrying a flag.

Please do not plan to hunt whales in Kansas as it is against the law.

It’s also illegal to hunt whales in Ohio, but only on Sundays. You also may not fish while intoxicated. Installation and use of slot machines in outhouses is also permitted….DARN!

It’s a No-No to push a moose from a moving airplane in Alaska.

Sleepy? Don’t get caught sleeping on a refrigerator in Pittsburgh, Pa. It is against the law. A special cleaning ordinance was also passed banning homemakers from sweeping any dirt under the rug in a dwelling. Wives must send a note with their husbands enabling them to purchase alcohol and beware…singing in a bathtub is illegal.

If you go to Texas and decide to have a beer make sure you are sitting. It is illegal to take more than 3 sips of beer while standing. It is also illegal to release any obnoxious odors in an elevator.

If you need a blue light bulb you will have to travel to another state other than Arkansas. You will also need to keep your alligator somewhere other than the bathtub since it is illegal to keep them there. Make sure your dogs are muzzled if you live in Little Rock because they are not allowed to bark after 6 p.m.

You may not be able to drink and fish in Ohio, but there is no law against it in Idaho….you just can’t fish from a camels back!!

In Massachusetts you may NOT give beer to hospital patients. You also may not allow a guerilla to ride in the back seat of any vehicle. Taxi drivers are not allowed to make love in the front seat of their taxis while during their shift….Aw…where’s the ACLU on that one??

For more outrageous funnies go to:
www.basicjokes.com
www.dumblaws.com