You were lost then you were found!

HI ALL!!!!!  I had lost my blog.....AGAIN!  Isn't that so crazy to lose a blog.  So here I am, thinking that title can preach.  It is much like our lives, we were roving around and around in sin not knowing we were lost.  My blog was in cyber land lost and not knowing it was lost.  It was just floating there enjoying itself (if a blog could enjoy itself)  Maybe it was talking to neighbor blogs without a care in the world.  But its creator had a plan for it, to write more but it had to be found.  Now a blog doesn't know how to come to its creator.  A sinner has to be shown how to come to God!  It is then the sinner who kneels before the Almighty asking to be saved from their sinful state.  What a wonderful day that is!  The sinner is no longer a sinner, they are a new creature in Christ.  Praise the Lord.

Maybe a silly comparison but I am glad I found this blog yet again.  The last problem is that cyberland wouldn't let me sign in to my account!! Finally, today I thought I would try one more time and walaa here I am.

So what is going on in the Clark house these days?  School, school and more school!  We have fallen into a descent schedule which my youngins have made possible.  I awake to hear school started and they are under way (at least the one who is doing video school is underway!)  The others have their computers on and it seems they are getting some done.  Hunter makes schooling a challenge.  He wants to be held and doesn't want to let the scholars complete school.  He is asleep now which means we better hustle.  Oops, look what I just found, this means one is not getting school done. :)

Ok, woke Grady so he can finish school.  Seems 6:30am was too much for him today.  Ok, big sis said he was faking but he looks awful comfy!
Hunter is getting so big, he is nearing that 1 year mark.  WOW!  He took four steps yesterday which is pretty awesome.  I don't remember my others soloin' it until after 1 year.  He is a great big blessing even when he distracts us from work.
 I thought I might post a pic or two for ya'

 This is before hair cut. 

Fort out of sticks.

Happy Hunter!
Alright, so I plan to post more, now and again as long as I don't lose it again!  God bless you who serve the Lord.

Reflections

So for a few days now I have been reflecting on different things.  As I sit with Hunter, I marvel and reflect on myself as a mother.  I am still learning even 5 kids later.  I look back and sometimes think of areas I could have done better as a mom with the other 4.  Then as I write this, I think why reflect on woulda, coulda, shoulda.  I can't live in the past but I am thankful for right now.  I find myself in such a different place now, emotionally, maturity wise and with my relationship with the Lord.  Oh, the devil tries to get us down on past mistakes but if we take it to the Lord He will see us through.  I am thankful to the Lord for not giving up on me. 

I also found myself reflecting on my relationship with the Lord as I watched BTI services today.  Oh how I would love to be there, to enjoy the sweet blessings being poured out.  And then I reflect, we can have those same blessings right here in our local services and in our home worship.  We don't have to wait for The Church events to experience Him.  He is right here waiting on us, we need to come to Him.  I want a deeper walk with Him don't you?  I have no excuse not to actively seek that deeper walk. 

Ok, more reflections?  Well, as I sat at my neighbors house (she is moving to Mexico) she began talking how she has studied many religions and embraces a piece of each.  I didn't talk much about that, I look back and think, "Did I miss an opportunity?"  Then I think, there was no opening to talk, just as quickly as she said that, she changed the conversation.  So no, I don't think it was a missed opportunity.

Well, that was my "deep" thought today.  I wanted to post a pic of one of my monkeys but the youngest demands my attention and since he is only 1 month old, I have to go.  Until I have another 5-10 minutes

I almost gave up that anyone reads this...........SURPRISE!

So life is so full of surprises!  By now, most of you know we had a baby boy.  6 days past his due date but right with God's timing.  He is pretty fabulous.  He is an extra blessing....a time to really, really appreciate God's awesomeness.  I reflect on how this little guy was formed in me....then he came to meet the world with the help of his Maker.  He was so awake and pretty when he was born.  The labor was quick and although not painless (didn't expect pain free) endurable with God's help.  It was awesome.  See, God has allowed me to appreciate all of this pregnancy from start to now.  So cool.  I can give one pic for y'all to see if I can figure out how to upload.

 This was taken within an hour of him being born.  His hand looks a little purple in pic. 

Other surprises......I got a great surprise from the Aurora church.  A baby shower in a box.  I was so touched, they haven't forgotten us lol.  I loved it.  They even sent cake and a pack of koolaid for punch.  It was so great.

I got brave yesterday and took all 5 youngin's out.  I was surprised that it was so good.  Today Bekah and I went out for a couple hours with Hunter.  He started fussy but took a nap.

So far 3 surprises......then I looked at my blog and guess what....more than Sister Janis was following me.  I had given up blogging a long while back and thought facebook was all that and a bag of chips.  Facebook is facebook.  Not as personal.  I am back to fb but not posting as much if any. 

So I guess I am back.  I may not be as exciting as Sis. Becki and wrecking a deck ; )  but I may share a nifty or two.

All y'all headin to BTI, have a wonderful time.  I am going to try to watch if I am up.  Is it only going to be morning devotions or is anything else being broadcast?

Got to settle down and try to get to bed.  Church in the morning and we are picking up a visitor.

38 weeks 39 weeks who's counting?

Ok technically I am counting.  My due date is next Wed. and I am anxious to meet this little one.  I also am restless.  I began my "nesting" Friday but the past couple of days I have been swelling a bit more so I tried to keep my feet up today.  I felt like such a bum.  Too much to do and I am "sitting" around.  All I needed were bon-bons!!!   I went to bed tonight just to be staring into a dark room.  2 problems, it is warm today even with the windows open and I am simply restless.  A couple contractions hit as I lay there but nothing to make me want to hit my hubby so I guess it is only a warm up!  We are praying this happens on a Friday which not everyone gets.  You see, Daryl just started a new job and to get off may be difficult.  Oh if the baby comes, he is coming home but he doesn't want to be "let go."  I don't want him to either but God knows all things.

In other news..........
is there other news?  I feel that I am consumed with the progress of this pregnancy.  As I am sitting here, I have had 3 kiddos get up and say "I can't sleep."  Join the club but the mom in me is like...."get back to bed and close your eyes."  2 say they have upset stomachs, one says they are hungry yet they ate a huge supper.  Ugh!  They are all back in bed but how long before I hear, Mom, one more thing..... that is my middle one's favorite phrase.  One more thing is like saying to make a long story short......it never is, short.  He said he was afraid of the dirty clothes so he had to bring them into the laundry room.  Then he said his stomach hurt but not because he was sick, he wanted a snack.  It's all good though.  They are great blessings and this isn't that common of an occurance.

Strange place to close but I am going to for now.  Good night

Still counting.....but nesting!

Today was the first day in who knows how long that I had all kinds of energy.  I guess it is nesting time.  I cleaned, ran errands and made supper.  Many of these things zapped me in the past few weeks but I felt good.  The calm before the storm right....  I have more to do before this little one makes an appearance but feel like maybe I can accomplish something. 

We may be crazy but we are also expecting company on Monday.  I am totally fine with this though.  Maybe baby this weekend before company?  Only God knows and it is in His timing.  I am just getting anxious!

Well I need to get some rest.  Bye for now

The Count down.....36 1/2 weeks

So this is the count down to meeting this new little one.  I mentioned to someone recently that I feel this one is coming sooner than later....is that hopeful thinking or maybe just something in me that God is preparing me for I don't know.  Our life has been full of new exciting things that God has been putting in order.  He has fulfilled promises left and right.  Many know we are no longer in CO and Daryl is pastoring his first church.  A bit nerve racking but peaceful at the same time.  We are expecting our 5th child soon (due the 24th).  Lots of new you know.  We have had some rough times but we have learned (and are learning) to trust God. 

School has been hard to do the past couple of days.  All I want to do is sleep sleep sleep.  I have done alot of hanging out in my room.  I feel like a bum!  I need to so get motivated and the day is 3/4 over.  Church is tonight at 6 pm, prayer meeting tonight then tomorrow auxillary service.  We are going to have to start supper in about 45 minutes.  We are going to have left overs again but I am not complaining.  Left overs have been great.  We had a fellowship Sunday after church and had so much food left (everyone left it for us).  It has been a blessing.  We just finished off the last of the steak last night.....sad.  It was really thin skirt steak that was marinaded in chimoya(I think that is how it is spelled)  We have a pot of beans, left over ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans this amazing salsa that Sis. Yolanda made (it makes me sweat but it so good!)  We have been frying corn tortillas and making tostadas.  Yummy!!

I am skyping Sis Janis right now and how exciting the two of us are.  We are sitting here not saying much of anything haha.  We are boring sorts of people.  (I am anyway)

Well, I need to probably skiddadle......we'll catch you on the flip side.

Isn't it interesting how you can have a fabulous Sunday and the devil attacks full force on Monday?  He doesn't want us to have any victory at all.  What are we to do?  We are to tell him to take a hike, we have the VICTORY......devil get thee behind.  I woke up this morning in a kind of haze....just blah.  I have had one of those mornings that I can't get motivated.  We need to do school and I want a movie day.  I need to overcome that and just get busy.  I don't need to be a lazy person.  What a silly battle. 

On a lighter note, the kids have quite the lizard collection (only 2).  We got home from church yesterday to find out someone left the cage slightly open, these critters saw this as opportunity and escaped unbeknown to me.  They found them but that is one thing I said cannot happen.  I do not want reptiles loose in the house.  They didn't get far but yuck.....now they keep going to where they got out.  Pretty soon, they will figure out how to open the enclosure.....lol.  I told the kids they have to find the critters food today though.  It has been chilly so no crickets.  They will do better fending for themselves in the backyard.

Well I suppose I should kick start this day.  Have a great day with the peace of the Lord!

Ok 2 days in a row!!!!  Is that amazing or what?  I think Janis may be the only one following me these days since once upon a time I decided I liked facebook better.  That was dumb.  I deleted that a while back but the person who hacked me is still out there from what I understand.  They use my picture ( I am wearing a teal/bluish shirt and white vest).  What are they gaining from this?  I know they are friends with lots of church folks so beware, turn them in as not me please!!!!!  It is frustrating because I can't turn them in without giving fb a copy of my drivers license, not comfortable with that AT all! 

34 weeks along in this pregnancy and I am sick as a dog....haven't really stopped.  I have been in bed most of today and want to get up but then I get sick.  YUCK!  I really want to enjoy food longer....this has been tough and blessed at the same time.  I have enjoyed this little one growing so much, it is hard to describe.  I love all of my children but never really appreciated the whole process.  God has given me that chance in my "old" age (old according to the medical field but who is listening to them anyway).  I need prayer with these last weeks and the birth please.

God is blessing so much in ways that some may see as simple.  He provides before we ask and he has a plan that we have a peace about when no one understands.  (hard to explain)  We are in a new city with a new life!  This life is so different from before and requires our dependence on Him.  In the flesh, it is easy to feel overwhelmed but He gives me an overwhelming peace.  I love it!  Isn't God wonderful? 

Part of our new life here is the kids have become lizard wranglers.  They are catching all they can in the backyard.  Lizards, snails, bugs......nature beware, the Clark kids are on the loose. 

I will sign off for now.  If you are serving the Lord, may His peace fill your life.  If you are not, why not give Him a try.

I sooooo need to update this blog.  It has been a very long time since I posted anything.  This blog needs a facelift since our life has changed so much I think the blog should change with it.  God is so good.  He has been meeting needs before we ask.  Isn't God awesome!!!!

Hey all. I am at Sis. Janis checking email and stuff. We have been doin well, really enjoying school this year....we are now studying the middle ages. I have been bringing in the first BTI course to explain the time of apostasy the two go hand in hand. It has been fun, I am learnin with the kids. Well, I gotta run just wanted to say hey to all who still read blogs.

to host a cold or a game night that is the ????

Ok, my mind was a bit foggy from my cold when I last blogged. To answer your question Sis. Smith, I hosted a game night....no one was interested in the cold! : ) But all, y'all would be soooo proud, Sis Janis, yes you read right, Sis Janis and I had some mom's come over for a game night. We played mad gab and laughed and laughed. Sis. Janis is a no good cheater but we still survived. I met my match for one who has a knack for remembering absolutely useless trivia and unfortunately she remembers every song from the 80's.....not good. No it is not sis. Janis, she is so sweet and wholesome and was never corrupted by the 80's. This gal is new to our homeschool group and is only a year younger than me, she is married to an ex-saddle bronc rider so our circle of knowledge is very close. Seriously though, pray for her and her family....they have church hopped some but her hubby is a true red neck so there hasn't been a church he has fancied. I told her he needs to meet Daryl, though not a cowboy but a true country boy/tarheel/red neck! Sis Janis see potential in this gal but the devil has already been working at a wedge! Typical! Her daughter shared something with the girls she should not have, we are afraid to go to the mom. What was shared was serious if it was true, if not true it is still really bad. Sis Janis is afraid we could offend, I see her point but I also am worried about what was shared. Please pray for us.....PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! ( I felt I needed to put that)

Have I shared lately how I hate how the devil is sooo in movies lately. There are so many good plots out there that are ruined by foul language, nudity and just crude junk. Even the so called "family films" are subtily corrupted.....it is sad. I know movies are not a necessity...Daryl says read the Bible or watch Ken Ham or our Moody Science movies, you see I have a problem sleeping, so I put on a mindless movie to lull me to sleep....guess what....doesn't work. When I read befor bed, I want to finish and understand what I am reading....the same with the "good" movies we have (not that we have bad....I have been pitching many of our movies because of something that bothered me....I got rid of 2 of the love comes softly series, one because of bad language another because of suggestive language) I guess here is a second prayer request....just spouting off my frustrations.

OOOh had an idea, do any of you know what a renga is....It is a story....I would start with one line.....you add one line.....the next person adds a line and so forth wouldn't it be cool and nerdy to do one on a blog.....for those who don't know we are Christians so keep it clean.
Here we go

The cold of the night envelopes me like a cocoon (your turn)

that was weird....i clicked when i should have tabbed...can you tell i txt too much....no caps no punctuation nada.....so i was looking back and no comments on the last 3 blogs.....i guess everyone is facebooking which i can't do at the library....oh well.

So it is men's retreat this weekend....what are we to do.....I wish ladies retreat was more than once a year....I so look forward to it. Well, since we don't have anyone but janis and I on this side of the state.....we are having a game night with the mom's from our homeschool group. It should be fun if I get over this nasty cold.....I am hosting so I better get well and get the house in order. Any of you ladies want to venture over here you are so welcome to...it would be great!!!! I am gonna have to sayTTFN gotta scat, cat. I need to get home and take a nap!

so its a new year

Merry CHRISTmas

Greetings to y'all. Are you frazzled with the holiday rush? or have you been able to sit back and relax and enjoy life? We are doing great. We finished our ancient greece unit with a church fellowship. We had "greek" food....beef filled pitas with an homemade garlic dip, beef and onion stew, rice pudding, and cretan cake. It was good....the kids were able to recite Psalm 139 as part as our "finishing". They did well. We won't start ancient rome until jan. 4. During "break" we will continue math and I am assigning a book report. We are going to make a gift bag as the book report....there is going to be a well written summary, a craft or drawing of a gift to the main character, a picture of the setting, an advertisement designed for the book and ....I'm still thinking of and.
If you go to my facebook you will see a new pic of the family, what do you think of the ties on those rednecks? That does not happen often.
My folks are supposed to be here Mon. after Christmas if the weather holds. Please pray for their trip.
I need to sign off for now...Merry CHRISTmas. Love in Him!

Hi once again from the library

Ok. I should be home getting ready for hunting but I need to get out a while. I had to run some errands for Daryl so I ran by here quick like. We are getting ready to go hunting tomorrow night. We both have our tags as I stated before, I hope we get them filled although I have no idea where we will put all that meat. We only have a small freezer aside from the one on our fridge.
Daryl has been spending today making bunks in our slide in camper. We were given it and it is in decent shape but only slept 2-3 people. we are going to be putting all six of us in it so we needed beds. He has been having fun making these bunks and with all that body heat we should not need a heater, which is a good thing because we don't have one.
Have you ever had one of those "blah" days? I am having one today. I dislike these days, even as I post I am thinking this is a "blah"post. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and God has made them all. I need to remind myself "this is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it"
I don't have any more exciting news to report. Pray for us on our hunting trip....we will be gone until Wed. unless we get our animals sooner. Hope you all are having an "un-blah" day.

a QUICK post

ok I am going to post fast. I am trying to not overstay my welcome at Sis. Janis' house....I told her 30 min. I'll try. Thank you sis Smith for the insight. I have further discussed the covering with my friend and explained what I found in scripture. She was going to get me literature on their reasoning. She had questions concerning the flag so we sent home the book on the flag as well as the trac "Introducing The Church of God." She read through it and said it was very interesting. I have invited her to ladies retreat. She was going to discuss it with her husband, (he has befriended Daryl so that could help). I told her if she or her hubby had questions to let us know. She showed up later at my house with a hot dish and fresh bread. I had been sick and she knew about it, she is a mom of 4 too so she said she knew it was hard to get supper on when you don't feel well. This was such a blessing. I think the kids were tired of pb&j.

I want to praise the Lord, I am over this nasty illness. I lost my voice yesterday....no fun. I had been running a fever for a couple of days....again noooooo fun.

I best go. Pray for us, we may be heading to Pueblo for a whirlwind trip. My grandmother passed away Thurs. morn. She had dimension and her body finally quit....she was 93. She has been gone in many ways for years because of the disease. she hasnt known anyone for over a year. It is hard. It seems as I set my mind to go, a piece of my sickness returns. We are not for sure we are going. Pray please for God's help in the decision. I some times feel maybe we shouldn't go. Any way....I have to sign off. Love all y'all.

happy fall

Hi all. It is fall, so be glad y'all! Ok not the best of poetry eh? I have been busy busy busy this year and have not been able to get to a computer until today. I have missed blogging, facebook....not so much. You can't just ramble on facebook you have to have a brief point and wait for a response. That does not work for someone who is only on the computer once a week or month depending on the schedule. So what has been happening with me? We went camping and grouse hunting a couple of weeks ago. It was chilly but fun. Those who know me know I was not raised in a hunting family. I have only killed a rattlesnake and prairie dog and both done with my car. The rattlesnake kill is a funny story. Picture this, I'm 17 heading home on a Friday night after "hanging" out with friends....we lived in Pueblo West on the northside before it was sooo built up. Any who, I am driving along and see a rattlesnake...I slow and run him over, back up and there he still is I run him over again, back up and can't find him....It is quite dark out there so my imagination goes wild. Where could he be, I imagine he has crawled on the tire into the engine and is going to emerge through a hole in my floor where the gas peddle is or maybe through a vent. I get home and am a little on edge...I fling my door open and literally jump as far as I can out of the car and proceed to run to the house. Ok, I thought it was funny.
The point to my story is I have never shot anything, So we are out grouse hunting and see grouse. Daryl jumps out of the pick up and stalks them, I have to find a safe place to park. He gets his and we take it back to camp. He has riddled it with shot so he majorly has to butcher it. The next day we see another on the road, I jump out....and sneak, sneak , sneak....that crazy bird just paced back and forth. I shot and killed it first shot (daryl took about 4 shots before his died) And my kill was a head shot, when daryl and the kids cleaned it, it actually resembled a fryer chicken. I baked them up when we got home, they were pretty good. Rebekah says a cross between a chicken and a turkey. I just had to get passed that I killed that crazy bird....I even apologized to it when I picked it up.....
What I need to get now is some blaze orange to make a "hippy" skirt out of old jeans, we are elk hunting in a couple of weeks and I don't want to get shot, yes I have hats and vests but lots of orange don't hurt. If we fill our tags, I may turn vegetarian for a while.LOL I like to watch elk but have only eaten one once.
Well, I was hoping we were going to ministers retreat but we cant since ladies retreat is the same month. I have to have Daryl take time off for me to go to ladies retreat...so it wont work being so close together. Bummer huh....I guess Bro. Gerald and Sis. Janis will have to give us all the pearls of wisdom when we get back.
We had a very good visit with our Mennonite friends Sunday. The Lord has blessed us with opportunities to visit with several of the Mennonites in Craig. It is interesting, I usually will end up talking doctrinal issues....and this time was no different. The lady and I were talking about dressing holy and she asked, "so do you consider your hair your covering?" She stumped me because I hadn't thought of it and did not have an answer. Afterward I looked up the scriptures about head covering....I found the scriptures where they get their beliefs and I found where our hair is our covering in I Corinth. Are these the right scriptures? Has anyone been approached by these questions? Help....
Well I have to go get the kids from a science class. Hope all is well.....

The first week of school

Yahoo! We have almost made it through the first week of school and it has been great. As some know, we are doing Learning Adventures. Our text books art The Bible and library books. We have a seperate math curriculum. This program is very interactive. I have had a great time reading with them and sharing in their learning. Colton has been reading with us in the Bible. We each read a verse. Colton may not know a word but Rebekah and I help him. He is enjoying reading this way. During the first 30 days, we are studying ancient Egypt. We started in Gen. 37 and have been reading the story of Joseph, we then read about Egypt and the desert. Our Language right now is dealing with the elements of Literature, we then apply that to the story. Today we had to write a paragraph defining the exposition of the story and then list the exposition of the story of Joseph. I am learning with them. The spelling words deal with spelling rules. This week's rule is the i before e except after c or when sounding as a as in neighbor and weigh. It is a good review for Bekah and a learning experience for Colton. They like school this year. A friend down the road has been working with us as she is doing the same unit study. They came over for our egyptian feast of fruits, I sent the older 2 to her house for their diorama of the nile river. Today we are at her house for watching videos on egypt. We were going to make bricks.

Well,I better go for now. We have disturbed her household long enough. Have a great day.

I have not given up on blogland. I was discouraged that no one was still doing this, but Sister Rebekah you gave me hope. Facebook is confusing and way too time consuming although I found 2 of my highschool friends on it and some of my cousins I haven't spoken too in some time. (that was a major run-on sentence wasn't it) It is way to confusing though.

I took the plunge and ordered learning adventures and saxon math. I am scared and excited all at once. Scared because it is new but excited because it is new. The kids can't wait to start school. I would have liked to have more time to organize my classroom....I got rid of a bunch of books and I still have a bunch of books. Is there anyone interested in 2nd and 4th grade Abeka readers...call me I'll make you a deal.

Well, my Bekah girl turned 10 and I turn....non-vlb as of Wed. Just when I was getting into VLB marches it is over....why was I soooooooo stuborn all those years and I didn't want to march. We don't know what we have missed out on until it is gone. : ( I talked Daryl into taking me out for an early b-day lunch Sun. My mom gave me shopping money and phase 10 dice game....WOO HOO thanks sister Emily I love that game. It is so great for quick math skills (the teacher in me just wont stop...I even asked for Newtons Workshop videos for my b-day ....didn't get 'em. boo hoo)

Well I have blogged through a down pore here at the library and it is over. I better sign off for now.

Hi from my folks' house. The kids and I are on a mini vacation at my parents...We have been going non stop it seems. Today was Rebekah's b-day...it is hard to believe she is in double digits. We began the day by going to church with my folks, ate lunch then went to Pueblo to go to church there. After church, we hustled to get Bekah' s cake and go to the restaurant where we were having her party. We invited some great aunts, uncles and cousins....it was good but chaotic. Wait, that is normal in my life.

I did get to see my first bear in the wild Saturday....the mama and her cub were in my parents back yard here in Rye. It was cool. I got pics. Can you see the baby behind mama? I was about 30 feet from them. Maybe not real smart but oh so cool. A little scary though when I go out to my van at night. Mama bear was probably only 2 years old and about as tall as a mastiff or rottweiler. At one point she looked at me but saw I wasn't a threat and went about her busisness. This beat going to the zoo.

We did go to the Denver Zoo on Thurs. it is a pretty good zoo....I was impressed with their snake exhibit. They had all the bad guys it seems, they had about 3 different cobras, various vipers and even mambas. We got to see an anaconda even. These are the bad boys the croc. hunter used to play with....I don't like snakes but they are fascinating.

Fri we went to a county fair in Rocky Ford. It was fun for the kids. They got to ride the rides.

Tomorrow I am taking my grandma out to lunch...pray that goes well, she has had so many falls I am afraid but she is obstinate. I am not taking the kids on this excursion because that would be hard.

I have tried out facebook but I think blogging is more fun. I get lost in all the mini posts on facebook....there are so many games too. It doesn't seem as easy for someone who isn't on the computer much.

I will say good night for now.