Modesty

I know that Modesty can seem like a bad word these days. Have times really changed so much that we have forgotten? Some things are better hidden..

The other day I sat behind a young girl. I am sure she is maybe 15 or 16, not really sure. She had this really cute dress on. Well, if you forget that it was more like a long shirt and was low in the front leaving not much to be imagined. Really? I couldn't help but think of my sweet girl and that Lord help me if she ever leaves the house that way. I prayed this girl would not bend over or lift her arms. Seriously... It really was like that.

Let.s do a light check.. Can you see through it?
Let.s do a hallelujah check... if I lift my hands how short is it?
Let.s do a bend over check.... can you see down it? does it come up too high in the back?
You get the picture...

I kept thinking she is right in front of my husband and the words of my pastor's wife came back to me. I don't want someone else tempting my husband! Yes it is a young girl and well he isn't like that. She will someday be a grown woman.. What are we teaching our girls these days?

I know shopping for myself is a challenge.. It is made too tight or too short. Heck I seem to buy bigger just so I don't feel like I am squeezing into everything. If it is too short I layer it or heck don't buy it. I have a limit on the shortness.. and the lowness in the front.

I want my daughter to know that she does not need to flaunt it to get a guy. She can be a modest girl and beautiful inside and out! If he can't love her for her modesty, he doesn't love her for her.

Ladies, teach your daughters to be mindful of themselves. Think better of themselves. No need to ask for unwanted attention.

I know I'm not the most modest, but I am working on it. He is still working on me....

I am done ranting for today... well maybe..

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Pondering...

Over the last few weeks I have just been in a funk.. Not quite sure why. I can pin point a few reasons. Just trying to keep my head up. I know this is just a season.. Right? 

I have struggled with some offense and I shouldn't let it get to me like I have. I have realized that people were not what they seemed to be. I started to worry that when someone sees me or gets to know me, is it the REAL me? I know that we tend to change this or that sometimes depending on who we are around or the situation we are in a the time. I pray that no matter what I am always myself and I maybe this or that changes, but I never cave on my convictions or say things that I don't really mean.

Last week, I was offended by something that shouldn't have bothered me. It should of made me feel blessed! Instead, I started thinking they never said this or that when I was there and etc. You know that pity party? In all honesty, I didn't feel like celebrating in this blessing for someone else.. So I kinda lied...  Well I say stretched it. I did the complete opposite of what my flesh was feeling! I went with what I knew was right. So lie or not, I said what I wished I could of felt like saying. 

All in all, I guess you can't talk about someone else's weeds until you pull your own! 

"Monday" kinda day..

Yesterday was one of those days... It was a "Monday" although it was Tuesday! We had taken a long weekend off. Hubby had a four day, so we enjoyed a three day! :) We finished school on Friday early, before lunch! :) It was a great break!! We enjoyed the weekend spending time with friends and a day at the park! So, I guess the Mondays had just lingered.. Not sure. It was one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. The computer system for school was not working. You could log on and then it would log you out or the computer would freeze up. Class connect sessions wouldn't work right either.. So that seemed to set my mood.. It was after a cup of coffee, but just seemed to set the rest of the day off.. I tried to keep it under control and not take it out on the kids, but I have to be honest I did.  With everything off and crazy, I started stressing and wanting to just get the day over with! Then started worrying that we would be doing school ALL day long... I am still working on this part of the home school it is okay if it takes a while and etc.. It didn't take all day, we did leave a little to make up today, but wasn't too bad.  Anyway.. when hubby came home he found me in our room laying on the bed with the door shut. When asked what was wrong, I told him. I just wanted some peace and quiet. Of course he didn't leave me alone either.. So I just got more aggravated. Rested a little longer and then it was time for dinner. I still felt tensed and frustrated... So as I did dinner.. I slammed this or that.. Yea real mature right? Just one of those days..  At dinner, realizing that not only was I in a bad mood, but now hubby seemed to be. I also noticed the kids seemed to be quiet and we getting along for the most part.. Oh would this day just be over! So I went back to my room shut the door after dinner and enjoyed a little quiet time - just me!

When I got up I was just relaxing watching TV with hubby and checked Facebook..  A friend had posted this article Mom sets the Tone. Yep.. Conviction! Not only did my bad mood affect my day, but it also changed hubby's attitude from when he came home. I had to agree, my mood definitely set the tone for my household.. Yeah what a great day... Definitely didn't feel like the "mom" I want to be or even think I am!

Praying that your days no matter how bad, we can overcome and hold in that "bad" attitude and not affect the rest of our household. Also that we can recognize that there will be days no matter how hard we try it will just be that.. a BAD day!! We can apologize and pray tomorrow will be a MUCH better day!!

For the record... I controlled my attitude a lot better today. :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

We enjoyed a great visit with family over our Christmas break. There was no drama this time and it was a really good visit. :) Over 3300 miles traveled there and back. We got back with about four days to spare before we had to get back in the grove of things. Good thing, I think we just slept those few days. Hubby and I were worn out! Didn't help that I had/still have a cold I picked up somewhere along the way. My voice is finally coming back though! :)

We are slowly getting back into the grove of things here. We skipped group this week since Monday was our first day back to school and I knew it was going to be a challenge. It went fairly smooth though. The last few days has surprisingly! I haven't really pushed things either just trying to get us going again and it probably hasn't helped that I haven't felt 100% either.

We found out yesterday where we are supposedly headed. I say supposedly cause you never know til you get there if it will stay that or not. We will be here longer though, since hubby got a follow on course too. Dates are still to be determined since we don't know the dates of the class yet. Everyone is just assuming.. I will not post where just yet. Just in case... :)

Hope you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year! May this year be full of many blessings!!

Wow.. Long time no see..

Wow! I can not believe it has really been that long since I have blogged! Life has just passed by.. Quick catch up.. I will back up a bit... lol

I got a job I wasn't looking for.. I wanted to volunteer to interpret on post and was denied because I didn't have a piece of paper. It was prophesied over me that it was my time to step into the lime light and that God was going to expand my ministry. The next day I got an email to interpret on post! That client started coming to church and became quite an experience for me, good and bad. Not long after that as I continued to work with the office in town as a volunteer to learn more about the Deaf community, I was contacted by a Technical College in the area to interpret.. Yep, I wasn't looking! So I thought ok.. I will see where this goes. I was hired and worked there for two years. Three clients and lots of fun and experience! :) Plus the extra money wasn't too bad either..

Hubby came home from a short deployment that I talked about before! :) Safe and sound!  Went on a much needed family vacation to Disney world! :) Had so much fun!!

Ministry continued. Good and bad. Learning process continues..  God is faithful.

I witnessed two beautiful miracles of children being born. One was not a great experience and I thank God for getting me through that situation. The baby was very early and was not fully developed. She lived an hour. I was the one to tell the mom she had passed. I was the interpreter. The other was a sweet friend and her hubby was deployed, so I was able to do pictures. That baby will always have a special place in my heart.

I worked and hubby worked, kids went to school. Boy scouts, girl scouts, church, and gymnastics. Plus FRG stuff and E's tutoring.

Another family vacation. I made a rule no talking of upcoming deployment! Mother in law went with us. Really wasn't too bad once hubby told her there was no talking about it. I wanted to pretend it wasn't happening. (funny how I remember those feelings)

Hubby deployed again a year later for a year... :(   He came home for two weeks around Thanksgiving and time went too fast! He made it safely home this past summer! :)

I ran a Cub Scout pack (den mother, advancement person, Cub Master). Then I resigned due to the changes in their policies. We continued girl scouts and gymnastics. Plus working and trying to function at home. I did not volunteer as much as I would have liked with my work schedule, but I tried. I really enjoyed working and it kept me busy while hubby was gone.

We took another family vacation and moved!

We are here for a short time and a new adventure for us has began. I am homeschooling the kids. I had felt lead this last year to do it. E couldn't get the help he needed with reading and even though he was improving, it was due to the private tutor we paid for. It had nothing to do with the school there. I was deeply disappointed. A concerned parent should mean something. Just my opinion.. anyway.. Maybe it was friends pulling kids out and doing it. Maybe it was friends already doing it. Not sure, but I was praying. Then we found out we were moving for training and it was 6 months. That meant the kids would be in 3 schools in one year! So, we are doing the K12 online. I am really liking it and I am still in total shock that I say that! lol  Yes we have crazy days where I want to go crazy, but I like it. I think E is doing good with the one on one attention and I pray it is helping and not just a momma's heart. :)

Thanksgiving was good. Family came to visit and we did a lot of tourism around here. It was good to see some of the places we have not seen in four years.

Life went on.. I think that is a quick recap.. I am sure there is a lot of things left out, but that is a majority and most would bore you! :)

Be blessed!
Hugs

God is G- double O - D Good! :)

I have to admit, I am not feeling all that great.. I think this new ministry is really great! However, what does the enemy do when we try to do something to grow in the Kingdom of God? You got it! ATTACK! So, with that in mind, I want to give a praise not a complaint!

Sunday was our very first Deaf Ministry baptism!!! It was so exciting!! I felt honored to be a part of that wonderful life changing experience! Most of our church was all on a high that day. We had one other to be buried in the name of Jesus that day as well. The last two Sundays, we have baptized four!! God is really good!  I have a video of the baptism, but I cannot get it to upload, so I will have to do that later. I was disappointed when I watched the video, because I realized I had used a few wrong signs, I am moving on though and trying not to let that get me down!

I loved how E smiled most of the morning at church. God is really working in this man's life. When he first started coming back since I have been interpreting, he didn't say much to any of us. He came in late and left as soon as he could. Now, he is praying at the altar and he is staying to talk to us a little. He even calls me on the VP from time to time. :) On Sunday, he just seemed to smile the whole time! It was truly amazing! When he came up out of that water, he started to pray. He even started talking and saying "I love you Jesus" and Hallelujah!! :) For him to use his voice was a big thing, because I have been trying to get him to use it while praying and he did!!!!! :) I couldn't help but be so excited and cry at the wonder of God! He is truly AMAZING!!!

Here are a few pics of the baptizing! I will tell you that I am going to add one that isn't great of me, but I have to share because that sweet smile on E's face makes it all worth it! :) It doesn't matter that all my emotion from the prayer was shown! I have been told that I interpret with attitude, I guess that could be right. :) I have some proof now.. lol  However, I am learning more and more that emotion says everything to the deaf. I will try to upload the video soon if I still cannot get it to work today. :)

 

Be Blessed!
Hugs,
Lanitha

The Lord is working...

I have a lot to catch up on here, but tonight isn't going to be the night... we'll I don't think so.. LOL

We had a good time at the GCMC, Sunday School Conference. Lots of folks there and many had very nice things to say to us about our deaf ministry. I was a little surprised after they had asked me to go to interpret, that it was advertised, but maybe that was for the best. Also saw a few people from our last church and they were surprised to see me. I guess they thought I was in NC or maybe even still Japan. They told me I had been holding out on them with the interpreting.. Not really, God has done this! So I shared that story. :)

Saturday was our 11th Anniversary! I don't know where the years have gone. I sure know one thing for sure, I cannot imagine my life without that man! He has really changed me along the years and I think we have really grown together. I am so proud to call him my husband and even more so to call him my HERO! I cannot wait til he gets home!  I will have to say that after about three weeks of no contact from him, I was about to pull my hair out. It really drives me crazy. Friday night, well Saturday morning for him, I got a call.. I heard those favorite words I love to hear.. "Hey Babe.. " Yes I YELLED!!!! The girls in the car knew immediately who it was! :) I had to pull over so they could drive and I could talk. I couldn't concentrate on how to get into that McDonald's when I was so excited! :) It was great and made my day!! I have to admit though, that once we were getting off the phone I got all choked up and cried. It was happy tears, but sad at the same time. I sure miss my man!

Sunday at church was awesome! I am still battling something and trying to find the direction I am supposed to be going. I know I was brought here, well maybe I should say, I think I was brought here to start this deaf ministry. However, is it just to start and then step down or what? I am confused and I feel a leading in different ways and so unsure. Part of me feels it is the spirit of fear and that I got my confirmation of sorts on Sunday. The sweet deaf gentlemen that comes sometimes, that for some reason everyone is afraid of and says he gets offended easy over signs. Well, so far so good! :) He seems sweet to me and he just smiles at me when I mess up or I don't understand him. He is patient and I think the fact that he keeps coming back, says a lot! :) Anyway, Sunday he went to the altar and was praying! I was so excited! I prayed with him and D (deaf lady) talked to him later and he has decided to be baptized! He called me on the VP last night and asked me to call the Pastor and see if he would. I knew he would, but I called and everyone is so excited!! This will be our first deaf ministry baptizing!! I am so excited!!!!

Well, I had to share those tidbits of my last few days. I hope all of you are having a blessed week so far! :)

Hugs,
Lanitha