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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Do I believe that Hannah is an angel?

  Yes, I know this is deep to start off the morning, but I feel it time to explain some things.  We've been studying the end times in our small group from church.  And as you all know, we lost our precious daughter, Hannah Elizabeth(you can read her story here), 4 years ago, we have suffered 2 miscarriages, and we just lost a very, very close friend, who was the leader of our small group.  As you can imagine, understanding death and losing a loved one is close to our hearts.


  A few weeks ago, the topic of angels came up.  We discussed this whole idea of when someone dies that they turn into an angel.  I will say, that I feel I may have misled people into thinking that we believe this by naming my blog "Hannah's Wings" or by saying in my profiles that I have 3 angels in heaven.  This is not true.  While, I will not go into great detail of what we believe on what happens after death (going to heaven, Jesus coming back and raising up the dead in Him, and so forth).  I will say, that we do NOT believe that Hannah herself is an angel, nor the other two babies that I misscarried.  Perhaps, if it is too misleading maybe, I should rename or change my profile, but for right now, I just think clarification is in order. 
  Now, I do not want to discuss such a deep topic without some scripture, so I'm hoping if this is confusing to you, maybe God will help us shed some light on the issue.

1.)  Angels were already present when God created the heavens and the earth. 

Job 38:4 - 7 ~
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
 
 
2.)  Satan was an angel and was thrown out of Heaven.
 
Revelation 12:7-12 ~


7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them[a] in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
 
 
3.)  We DO have guardian angels. 
(They are just not people we have lost here on earth.)
 
Psalms 91:9-12~
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
 
  I hope and pray this clears some things up for you if we had misled you here at Hannah's Wings.  I also pray that if you have lost a loved one, that was saved, that you can take comfort in knowing that they will be in Heaven as a child of God, with their name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
 

  Also, here is a very good article on angels as a whole.   http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/are-guardian-angels-biblical/
 

Spring Cleaning, a refreshing start!

I don't know what it is about Spring that makes me want to clean, but it does!!  It really doesn't make any sense, if you think about it.  I have all winter to stay cooped up and have plenty of time to get everything in nice neat order, but for some reason, I don't have the energy or the motivation to until I hear bird singing and can open the windows.  Sure, we keep up on or day to day chores, but I'm talking about that deep down stuff.  You know, the good stuff, washing windows, curtains, wiping away cobwebs, cleaning and organizing drawers and shelves, and scrubbing floors.  I've been following one of my favorite blogs as she does the same this month.  And though, I'm not on the same schedule as she is, it has definitely helped me with ideas.  So I thought I'd share some of my resources.



 
I highly recommend Fly Lady.  However, spend about an hour looking over this website and jotting down ideas.  There is a routine set up that you can follow and then certain 15 minutes zones for each day.


 
Caroline, over at The Modest Mom, has been writing about Spring Cleaning all month, you can click on this link about Chore Charts for Kids and then it will also take you to all of her other posts from this month.  This is a great resource to get started, however after a couple of years of using "charts", I have decided I like our Chore Pack System much better.  Take a look at this very cute little girl explaining the system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I recently purchased this e-book by Sarah Mae on Spring Cleaning for $4.99.  It's very simple, a page a day.  It's more like a devotional than and instruction manual.  It has a "Martha" challenge ~ cleaning project for the day and a "Mary" challenge ~ a spiritual project for the day.
 
 
 
 
 
 This is where I keep all of my ideas organized and when I get discouraged or loose my inspiration, I browse through here.
 
 
Well, I'm off to work on my "zone" for the day!  Hope you have a wonderful day!
 
 
Psalms 51:10 ~ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 
Are you Spring Cleaning?  If so, how is it going? 

Friday, April 19, 2013

It's that time of year again!!

My favorite time of year is here!!!!  Spring, finally!!!  It just kept snowing this winter, I didn't think I'd ever see Spring.  And it's actually supposed to cool down again, for a few days, but it's better than it had been :) 

 
A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  Good!  Because I can not even begin to describe what this does for my heart!  Hubby tilling the garden while all the little blessings play in this wonderful warm air!

Doesn't this face just say it all?!
 
 
 
So with all that work and play, and rumors that the "rooms" were popping up, the following Sunday we decided to go on the hunt!

Here is our fearless leader, guiding us down the path.
(I have decided, I am completely out of shape!)
 
 
He's becoming an excellent woodsman!
 
 
 
 I feel like she's either ready to part the Red Sea or starring in one
of The Lord of the Rings Movies ;)
 
 
And of course, Daddy's sidekick bringing up the rear.
 
 
We didn't have any luck this day finding any, so Ronnie and Derek went back out yesterday morning.  And....
 
22!!
 
 
Look, at this tiny one, isn't it so cute?!
 
 
They were all fresh too!  So that means more to come!!
 
Is your family putting out a garden?  If so, one big one or lots of raised beds?  Have you been mushrooming hunting yet?
 
 
Have a Blessed Day!
Amanda
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, April 8, 2013

Week 1 - No Yelling Challenge

Well, how did your week go?

Mine was ok, but not great!  However, I've been able to understand 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 on a much deeper level. 

  ~ 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


I haven't been two days in row yet without yelling, but I can definitely tell what my "trigger points" are.  I can honestly say, I have done so much more "praying without ceasing", I caught myself breathing prayers almost every 5 minutes.  I've also been on my knees in fervernt prayer a whole lot more too!  A friend of mine shared with me this book, I haven't been able to purchase it yet (because it is so cheap and I'm waiting for a $25 order to get free shipping ;), however, I'd also encourage you to read it yourselves.

 
 
  I've also noticed how much dicipline plays a part into setting me off (or my husband for that matter.)  It makes a huge difference if you have not trained your children to obey the first time or to be polite and courteous.  And I've definitely seen where we need some help!  For example, one of the things that sets me off furiously is the children interrupting me or whing continually while I'm on the phone. 
 
 
 
 So this week we are going to work really hard on this.  I've told you before how much I love the book "Large Family Logisitics" by Kim Brenneman, who has 9 children herself.
 
     
 
 
  In her book, she talks about ways to teach/train your children to be polite and obey.  For the phone issue she says she trains her children 1.) Never interrupt unless it is an emergency or someone is getting hurt.  2.) If it something you really think Mama needs to know then place your hand on her arm and wait patiently until Mama can tell the person on the phone to hold on for a second.  *Absolutely no whining, yelling, crying, or fighting while Mama is on the phone (all of these things are not allowed anyway, but just to reinterate.)  If any of the offenses do happen while Mama is on the phone, as soon as she hangs up, a diciplinary action will take place!
 
  So this is what my family will be working on this week.  This will also help Mama to keep calm and not yell!  :)
 
 
Things We Will be Working on This Month:
 
1.)  No Yelling or Running inside or in Public Places (unless it's a gym)
 
2.)  Following/Helping Mama in a Store
 
3.)  Sitting Quietly/Respectfully in Church and in a Resturant
 
 
Remember, We can do this!!!  Keep calm and count to 10 or 100, whichever you need ;)  This verse was on our group page this week and I thought it very fitting!  
 
~ Proverbs 16:24   Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
 
Have a Blessed Day!!!
 
 
How is your 30 Day Challenge going?  Have you figured out what your "trigger points" are yet?  What coping mechanism are you using to stop from yelling?  I'm always looking for good ideas!! 
 
 


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

NO YELLING ALLOWED!!! 30 Day Challenge

Ok, so I announced it the other day on Facebook, that I was not yelling for 30 days and that you all could follow me on my blog in my journey. 


So here it is.  Here's the story behind the whole idea, if your interested in reading the rules and such....

   
 


This lady named her blog "Orange Rhino", because she needed something to yell when she became upset or also a code word for her kids to give her when they could tell she was going to yell.  She gives all kinds of neat ideas to use not to yell at your children.  Also the different levels of yelling and what is acceptable.  I have also joined a group on facebook called, "the Joyful Rhino and Friends" group.  My friend Suzanne over at www.thejoyfulchaos.com  actually introduced me to the whole thing. 


So anyway, back to us here at Hannah's Wings........

Day 1:  Went very well....no yelling, however the stress of the day was extreme!!!  Satan totally wanted me to yell!!!  The radiator in the van blew up while we were driving down the road, we found out our insurance on our new business was going to be extremely expensive, and few other just over the top things. 

Day 2:  I had lots of company over preparing for the "Seder Meal" at church and did very well.

I'm not sure where it went after that.  So, here's what I'm doing.  I decided to take this a month at a time.  And hopefully a new good habit every month.  I read somewhere that if you can do something for 30 days it becomes a habit.  So for the month of April, I will be working on yelling (Ronnie says after I achieve this, he will try ;) 
I'm hoping this will also motivate me to be better about writing here.  :) 

****Just had to get up from typing to break up an argument between the older two....and I didn't yell!!!  Yay!!! 

So, here's to everyone with me......keep calm, remember to start out in a whisper when you are getting upset and you will have farther to go before you are yelling.  And here's a few resources to help us along the way.

In this book, Teri Maxwell talks about her struggle with depression and yelling and being angry ~

                                                            Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit
 
 
 
 
~Proverbs 15:1~
 
~Phillipians 4:13~
 
 
I encourage you to look up these verses if you don't already know them and memorize them over and over when getting upset.  Also, I would encourage you to create your own journal and keep track of your days and how many times you get upset.  It's amazing how motivated we become when we can see progress.  Satan won't be able to keep us down as long if we can look back on our blessings when we are having a bad day :)
 
 
And remember, if all else fails.....Smile....even if you have to fake it!
 
 
Have a blessed day :)
 
Amanda