Our Little Corner Of The World

I think it's time to blog again!

2011-05-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

What a rough time I've had getting this thing going!!

What I must say to anyone who may stumble upon this blog, I am not eloquent in my writing, although with a bit of consistent effort I will become better!

What if I actually became the writer I dream of becoming!?? I think it would be the Lord, for I have so far to go! Nonetheless, I desire to write in a way that perhaps will bring a bit of delight to others=) I love people, I just do!

Blessings,
Tiff

Why God Made Moms...

2010-03-30T12:50:00.004-05:00

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

What to do on a snowy Sunday when mom and dad are sick?

2010-03-21T13:16:00.000-05:00

Here in Dallas, we have had the most marvelous weather! It has been in the high 60's-70's for crying out loud! However in one day the temps dropped and the wind kicked up and we had a SNOW STORM, 1-2 inches stuck to the ground and sitting on all the new budding plants...UGH!! Don't get me wrong I love snow, but I have mentally changed seasons and I am ready for all the activities a normal spring in Dallas, TX brings...

We were not feeling well this morning and the wind was BLOWING and the temps way low, so we played hookie from church...I thought I would give you some snapshots of our day....

Fire in the fire place.....burning something from the garage...

My Clematis starting to grow...Oh how I hope the snow doesn't kill it off!!

My backyard view this morning...

My coffee =)

The beginnings of my Creamy Tomato Basil soup...

The very old camcorder plugged in for a fun family surprise...

The kids sitting on the couch awaiting the family videos...

Our dog Chloe curled up in her spot...

All the videos we intend to watch and organize...

One of the spring projects we would like to tackle is to convert all these video's into DVD's. How wonderful it will be to downsize this bulk and have all our family movies more accessible...

Later I plan on making some homemade icecream...

After a long week!!!

2010-03-20T13:48:00.000-05:00

Saturday is upon us after the longest week! You wouldn't think a vacation from school and a week to just do what you want would be long and never ending, those weeks seem to fly by, but not here in our home! This week all of my kids flaws seemed to be present at the same time and because I was sleeping in and being lazy I didn't spend my morning quiet time regularly this week! It was a serious recipe for disaster! I do not recommend missing quiet times on day's you know you are going to be dealing with disciplinary issues and hosting 12 year old sleep overs! My insecurities have been rearing and my patience has been non existent! So needless to say, I am ready for my crazy schedule to resume! I am ready for my alarm clock to go off and for me to get up and come down to spend time with the Lord and do the crazy day thing! I am also about ready to give up my coffee fast! I am SO ready!! It has been so good for me, but I seriously love my coffee!! I am surprised how easy it was to give it up, and I didn't know it was going to just be a fast, I thought it was forever, but I am really sensing it is over! I think...

For today, we did a bit of spring cleaning, and in a few minutes I will head upstairs and clean my room...the boys are earning a movie for tonight by wiping all my blinds down, and vacuuming the car out. Jaden and I will head to Dallas to check out a dance competition with my very dearest of dear friends. After an emotional and defeated week I am excited it's over and I am so looking forward to Monday's arrival, for it is a perfect day to "start over"...

I will leave you with some photo's of the family...we had our pictures taken in Dec and I never posted them on here....

Love and many blessings,

Tiffany

I can't believe I won...Marked with love....

2010-03-19T10:10:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I stumbled upon (this blog) which led me to (this blog) where I entered to win (this) sweet necklace. Lisa Leonard has stunning artistic designs that I simply adore, well I won the drawing! *GASP*

Thank you so much Lisa, your work is just beautiful.

With much love,
Tiffany

Spring is sprung..

2010-03-17T11:49:00.001-05:00

We are finally enjoying some weather changes for the better and in the Morse house that means projects...like the never ending backyard project... Here is a before and hopefully there will be an after!

Not to mention this beautiful climbing rose bush is starting to show signs of life!

John 3:16

2010-03-16T12:11:00.001-05:00

My Daddy has changed the paradigm of my family in one short generation, thank you for being you!
Happy birthday

Just to the rest who don't know my Dad, his name is John, and he was born on 3-16, and yes, the Lord has used him mightily through his humble grace driven life, and I am blessed to call him Dad!

One day last summer, Mom's and my birthday to be exact, my dad baptized my kids, it was simple yet profound, like a Jewish Papa passing down his blessing.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His ONE AND ONLY SON that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life!

Are you a whosoever??

Hanging around...

2010-03-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

One thing I have noticed since starting our homeschooling journey is the creativity and delight in my children return to their daily activities!! I thought I would share a few photo's of Jaden playing in the backyard...

We had a swing but ~~the dog ate it~~ it was destroyed, however we kept the base for the kids to play on...they have enjoyed it for countless hours =)

Prepare the Way

2010-03-13T10:16:00.000-06:00

I love LPM events! There are several reasons that have stacked up over the years, but there is an added bonus that has recently been added...you can attend at home! Wed morning I woke up and thought that instead of my regular quiet time of study, I would watch the LPM (Living Proof Ministry "live") event that taught on John the Baptist. It was a fabulous set of three teaching on the life of John and preparing for a fresh work of the Lord in your life! It was fabulous, and by lunch time, I had three hours of Bible study teaching tucked deep in my heart! I thought I would give you the quick outline of the mornings teaching...
1~Research God's promises
2~Risk fresh hope
3~Redefine repentance
4~Renounce territorial-ism
5~Recognize an offense
6~Re-evaluate the promise
7~Re-gain the goal

Of course the thing I was missing was sweet corporate worship and the wonderful fellowship with my "Siesta's", but all in all it is the sweetest morning I've spent in a long time. I am amazed at what technology allows us to access! I know the enemy has plans to use the Internet for evil, but I ache to have a heart that seeks the Lord with all that I am so I'm thankful for the access I have to great teaching in this season of my life!

Have a blessed Saturday

Tiffany

Recovery Monday...

2010-03-08T15:00:00.000-06:00

Monday's are always the day I hope to recover from the weekend and the day I hope to prepare and get a jump start on the rest of the week. This week however is the first of two Monday's that are "off" of the normal schedule. I have spend today just hanging out with the kids, I know we need to still get somethings accomplished, but I so desperately needed to just be with my kids! We had a yummy brunch (eggs, bacon, tortilla's, and orange juice) which happen to be their favorite...

We have done a bit of cleaning and will continue to clean when I get done with this post.

Laundry is almost caught up...YAHOOOOOO!!

**side-note**
In the previous post I discussed my concern for Joshua and his baseball adventures...well, the final game for the tournament was terrible and we played in the rain...baseball is not usually played in the rain for many reasons, but nonetheless, they played and lost 13-0...When we left, my husband and I were quite proud of our little guy, we together were building him up and encouraging him...it was a wonderful time. Well later in the evening my husband got a phone call from one of the coaches stating their concerns and how the rest of the staff was down on our kid...they spoke for about 20 minutes and when my husband got off he was rather disturbed and baffled...our Josh is a very talented athlete and we want to see him excel on any team, it is hard to get on a new team and know they are sitting around discussing your child as though he were condensed down to a list rather than a strong and talented individual to be trained and taught how to be the best athlete he can be..(sounds like an ARMY commercial) We are both frustrated and sad for our little guy who is put in such a difficult position...This morning I made him a stack of scripture cards that I knew he could use to face this very giant battle for an 8 year old...he was thrilled! He sat with them and poured over them and explained to me how each on applied, Praise the Lord! I hope that as we work through this problem, our little man will come through this time stronger and closer to his Creator. Jesus loves him this I know!

That's all I got for this random "Monday" post...

Blessed Monday
Tiffany

Take me out to the ballgame...

2010-03-06T21:34:00.001-06:00

****UPDATE*****
While we still play the great game of baseball my son mow play's on a team that build kids up rather than tearing them apart, we are stronger for the past experiences !!!!

***************************************************************************
Well, there is nothing I like better than taking my youngest child to his baseball games. Randall has coached Jake for the last 5 years in our local league, so I've been on Josh duty. I've given him the nickname of "Brown Dog" and it's been a source of joy for him and I! He has played on good teams and horrible teams, gone to the "world series" where he was a guest for this important tournament=) This year he plays for a ~~baseball factory~~ club team, and today was the start of our very first tournament. he played very very well! I was a proud mother to say the least! I always try to ~~lose my voice~~ cheer and shout, so that my kids know how proud I am! Nothing makes me happier than when they look my direction and give me that "your the coolest and nuttiest mom I know" look. I hope they always remember what joy they brought me during this season of our family life. How cool will it be when I will be the "Nana" and do the very same for the babies...we will all giggle with memory! My kids have brought true adventure into my life, I hope I have done the same to theirs.

I admire my son for his courage to go out on the baseball field when there are men around screaming and hollering, picking apart every step of their game, yelling with out patient instruction to "fix this" or "why would you do that?" and then shout with anger when a tear wells in their little eye to "stop crying". It's a funny thing this sports world we live in, we expect our little people to perform like professional athletes in their response in every play and when they do not, these boys sure do get their mistake highlighted and analyzed and over dramatized! Today my son, while at bat 6 times, struck out once, hit two BOMBS to the fence in center field which resulted in triples and then got on base the rest of the times. While on the base-path stepped off second in lapse of judgement and they tagged him out. With a couple of errors while playing 2ND base, I have to say that he definitely needed to be corrected on his errors, but when a coach came to me after and said he has "no mental game" and that his father would have terribly high blood pressure if he were here....I left feeling as raw as can be. Are you kidding me? He played his game 90-95% AWESOME and you are saying his father would not be proud? Courage, courage to fail and come back and try again, to try and please a set of coaches who expect a group of 8 YEAR OLD kids to play to the caliber of professional athletes. These kids are awesome do not misunderstand, they have great potential to play at high levels of competition, the club team they play for has produced Division1(550) and professionally drafted players(21 1st round draft pics) they won the games today by a substantial amount and had every reason to celebrate their accomplishment! First game (17-3) Second game (18-4)...lets keep our perspective guys maybe let this new and very young set of boys celebrate such a great day!

I have not come to a complete resolution in this situation. I certainly do not think I am going to change this pattern, but I am responsible for a certain 8 y.o. that I want to see become a man of great character who loves the Lord, so I did what every mom would do...
~let him sit in the front seat all the way home...
~Talked about his amazing accomplishments all the way home...
~jammed out to some awesome tunes and sang at the top of my lungs...
~went to the store and bought $20 worth of Popsicles and ice-cream...
~Shared the best moments with Daddy
~added a new cry to my heart that I will petition the LORD JESUS with...Lord, make me a great mom to my kids!

Here is a couple of photo's of my darling little man...

I love this little man, and I am so proud to be his mamma.

He is always welcome to take me out to the ball game!

P.T.L.I.F

2010-03-05T20:46:00.000-06:00

PRAISE THE LORD ITS FRIDAY!!

Friday evening actually made it! Oh my word this has been a long week. Here are a few things going on in the Morse world...

~It is spring break at our co-op so we are not under any pressure to be anywhere for two solid weeks!!
~We will however be getting caught up on some school work here at the house!
~The kids ~~bicker and fight constantly~~ are growing up normally...
~We have had the same dog for 15 solid months and still love her!
~Baseball season is upon us, tomorrow I head 40 miles north to Joshua's first tournament of the season! This is one of favorite surprises of being a mother of boys! Baseball! Who would have thought I would get so crazy in love with a sport!
~Dance recital season is in full swing...we have 13 weeks left to learn and perfect...I'm taking 5 and teaching one, and Jaden is in 4 dances. It is a lot for the brain that is for sure!
~Sandra is in S. Korea and doing well, I just spent a good 2 hours talking with her on Skype...

Now, I'm so exhausted that I can't even think of anything interesting to add to this post, so I will post it, and write something more creative another day! Hopefully with photo's..

A Meme just for fun...

2010-03-05T04:13:00.000-06:00

I saw this meme on Meredith's blog and decided to "borrow" it this morning.

1. What is your name spelled backwards? Y-N-A-F-F-I-T

2. What did you do last night? Ballet and tap classes, came home and ate the soups I had put in the crock-pot(chicken noodle and 10 bean) waited for the boys to come home from baseball practice, watched American Idol, The Office, went to bed...very exciting...lol...

3. What was the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? Digital video's from Living Proof's website.

4. Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery? Why would anyone do that?

5. When was the last time you swam in a pool? Last summer.

6. What are you wearing? Baylor sweatshirt and my thick Holister sweats.

7. How many cars have you owned? I'm not sure, and I'm too tired to count..probably around 10-15

8. What is the type of music you dislike most? Worship...mostly, but occasionally some silly Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.

9. Are you registered to vote? Absolutely.

10. Do you have cable? Yeah, some time's I wonder why because it is such a time zapper...

11. What kind of computer do you use? Dell

12. Have you ever made a prank phone call? Guilty.

13. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? Yeah I would.

14. What is the furthest place you ever traveled? Provence, France and I'm aching to travel again soon!!

15. What's your favorite comic strip? Um not..

16. Do you know all of the words to the national anthem? Yes!

17. Do you shower in the morning or at night? I think I tend to at night, unless I've got to be somewhere...then as I'm getting ready!

18. What is your favorite pizza topping? Pep and Cheese girl!

19. Chips or popcorn? It's all about the mood at the time, I like both.

20. What cell phone provider do you use? Verizon. And still waiting for Apple and AT&T to break up so we can get iPhones. We will NOT switch to AT&T.

21. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? People smoke peanut shells? I've never smoked anything in my life.

22. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? Um, no.

23. Orange juice or apple juice? Orange juice. Either freshly squeezed .

24. Who were the last people you sat at lunch with? My husband met us for lunch on Monday, it was so lovely!

25. Favorite chocolate bar? SEE'S anything.

26. Who is your oldest friend and how long have you known each other? Tracy Coady, our moms were best friends before we were born.

27. When was the last time you ate a homegrown tomato? I have tried and tried, my Texas soil doesn't let me grow tomatoes, however, I LOVE tomatoes!

28. Have you ever won a trophy? Well, medals, back in the gymnastics days, and they were very sparse because in competitive gymnastics I was never the best when compared to the rest. I really wish I could get out and tumble again though (as long as it is on a spring floor)

29. Favorite arcade game? The ORIGINAL Super Mario Brothers

30. Ever ordered from an infomercial? Nope, but there is a certain person who has in our home, and I about died laughing when the product arrived and I didn't know it was coming...I mean it cracks me up, you can get everything at Target, who would want to spend extra on shipping? I'm just saying!!

31. Sprite or 7-UP? Neither.

32. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?Nope

33. Last thing you bought at Walgreens? Nothing.

34. Ever thrown up in public? Uh huh. And it wasn't pretty.

35. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love? Hmmmm.... I'd choose love.

36. Do you believe in love at first sight? I don't think so. Attraction? Yes. But I don't think you "fall" in love, you have to "grow" in love.

37. Spongebob or Jimmy Neutron? UGH, we are so done with this season of life, Praise the Lord...NEITHER

38. Did you have long hair as a young kid? My hair was sort of long, but it is the longest it has ever been now...

39. What message is on your voicemail machine? I don't have a voice mail MACHINE...but I don't know what my message says if you call my cell phone either...

40. Where would you like to go right now? Right now?? Boise, to help my dad's newly owned vitamin company get caught up since the previous owners didn't leave him with enough stock. I think we could help bottle vitamins don't you!

41. What's the name of your pet? Chloe and Kitty(filled with kitties ready to burst)

42. What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it? Microsoft computer backpack and nothing...

43. What kind of tennis shoes do you have? Under Armour

44. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My sweet Melena.

45. Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny? Mickey.

I'm coming back to the blog world...

2010-03-02T16:35:00.001-06:00

I'm not going to write much in this post, but I am hoping to get back into blogging, well, start blogging with more purpose. There are two reasons I blog...One~I thought it would be an excellent way to let my family and friends at a distance to see what our family has been up to, and Two~ to share what the Lord Jesus is doing in my heart and life...

So, I am going to get back to it and hope I can get in the habit of blogging..

Happy Tuesday to you, and I leave you with a picture of the family at our most recent photo shoot...

Tiff

Time to re-access...

2009-11-30T06:58:00.000-06:00

We are one more day away from December, which completely struck me this morning in my quiet time~ I spent a wonderful four hours with the Lord last New Years Eve praying about the previous year and dedicating 2009 to Him. Here we are closing in on the end of this year and I can't believe it! I have grown so much, and my children have grown so much!

I can sense a season of change approaching, and while I laid in my bed this morning not wanting to get up, I could make a check list of all the things I would like to change and not change and what I could do better and perhaps not do at all! I am sure though that I am going to seek the Lord desperately in the coming year! That is the one thing I am most excited about! I don't know much else the Lord has in store, I just know that in order to be prepared and equipped to do whatever He has for me I much make sense of the world that I am called to here in the home! That includes parenting, marriage, schedules, schooling, seeking my God! Everything else is going to have to wait and be placed on hold for a little while! I need to get back to the basics and make sure the Lord is ordaining these steps of mine!

Do you ever just take a step back and re-access your life and make sure it is as the Lord is wanting it to be!!?? I need to do that every so often because I can get so comfortable in my "routines" that I am not walking in His best for me! So I am reevaluating and looking forward to what is in the "next" of my life! Some things may not change...I will just have to wait upon the LORD and see His direction!

I do hope to blog more...because I treasure the blogs I read and hope to be a treasure to someone as well!

Have a blessed day,
Tiffany

Entitled (rambling thoughts that are in my mind and not proof read!)

2009-09-16T15:47:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm so thrilled that I am posting twice in one week! I am astounded at how sweetly the Lord is speaking and teaching me! I love seasons of life that are like that!

I am reminded as speaking with a sweet sister this morning, and I was fired up again about my purpose on this earth! So many things in our political climate that are changing, so many freedoms that are at stake...In our nation have a responsibility to speak forth and exercise our freedoms, and we have the freedom to hold our government accountable, and vote in leaders and out leaders that will uphold our values and protect the freedoms that the blood of our soldiers testifies of. We are seeing so many things happening and changing and they are scary and uncertain, history repeating itself in ways that did not bade well, and ended in disastrous casualties...all the things the Bible speaks of in
2 Timothy 3:1-7,
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

and also

Matt 24:3-14
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Listen, I am not saying I'm not a bit worried about things that "could" happen over the next years...I am a mom with kids completely focused on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, I know what prophesies say about persecution in the last days...I just know this, I have a burning in my soul to preach Jesus Christ...

1Cor 2

1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Whew, if ever there were words of my own, these are mine right here...

I am not qualified to do this thing that I do, but what I do, I hope to do in the power of the Holy Spirit...

I challenge you to know that we are called to love the Lord our God with everything we are and we are to love others as we love ourselves...If you love God with all you are, you know the best way to love others is with the mind of Christ...in the midst of a hurting and desperate world, one which may meet their Creator sooner rather than later I sure hope to preach Christ in love with the power of the Holy Spirit and see a lost and hurting world begin to heal from the inside out because of Christ Jesus!!!

I love you friends and readers, more than you could know!!
Tiffany

I am a bad blogger

2009-09-13T06:25:00.000-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that I am not a great blogger!

I want to keep it up because of the sweet friendships I have developed because of it, and I so enjoy reading others blogs, so I want to keep y'all updated, but I'm not sure during this EXTREMELY busy season in my life where it fits! But don't give up on me, I really do want to keep my friends from afar updated on our going ons...

As for today, I have been up since 2AM and finally got out of bed at 5 and have been just doing what ever and getting myself organized and ready for the week ahead..

This weekend has been rainy and in the (wait for it) in the 70's....oh my it was a wonderful Sat of painting and crafting...I am redoing my daughters room for her 10th birthday, so I'm going completely all out! It's going to be darling...Yes, I plan on showing the finished product when it is done!

Today I am going to be seeing my brother for lunch, which I'm so excited...he has been a tremendous asset to my journey of founding a non-profit ministry. Not too much further in the process, but getting closer! I have a lawyer to do the legal stuff...so that is something..there are so many profound decisions that seem scary to me...positions to be filled with people who share the same heart and passions(not paid of course) , and all the words that must fit into sentences just so to articulate the purpose and mission of our ministry...I know how the heart beats to serve, but to place that in business type terms with out it losing it's umph seems, well, HARD!!

All I know is when I have the opportunity to teach the Word and love people for the sake of Christ, everything is right in my world. Other people in ministry seem to complicate all those things and that is the most frustrating part I have found as pursuit of ministry has been more intentional..

I have to be honest, why do we complicate the simplicity of Christ? He is truly what life is about, and I am confused how so many in ministry and leadership seem to think it is their responsibility to critique and complicate...I am not polished yet I'm teachable, I am not eloquent, yet my speech is filled with love and grace...I see the heart of a people who want to go deep into relationship with the Lord and are overwhelmed with programs and "perfectly structured" fill in the blanks.....________________!!

I know my calling is to Love the Lord my God with all my heart soul mind and strength, and to love others as I love myself...(simple concept)

My heart is broken from some things I have seen lately in ministry...ministry is about serving others, loving others, leading others to Christ...not personal agenda's..

Yeah I am founding a ministry, and you may ask well, don't you have an agenda...the answer..
YES!! My agenda is what the Lord desires! To teach His Word to who ever will listen...Paul says he didn't have eloquent speech or persuasive words, yet he reached multitudes, he was unpolished and rough, yet the Lord esteemed him to do great things for the kingdom. There is a lost and hurting world out there and I desire to love them and serve them like nobodies business!! Whew..

When I knew for sure the Lord was calling me into full time ministry, there was one thing I knew for sure...I am not qualified for this!! However, my heart before the Lord, you say in your word you use the foolish things of this earth to confound the wise, there is none more foolish than me, so i am going to trust you can do what You say You can do in me...I am amazed at what the Lord has shown me in the last 5 years, talk about an education...one thing is for certain, He Is the Lord and I am amazed...

I'm not sure how to close this post because it is a culmination of scattered thoughts, so I will close with prayer..

Lord Jesus, you are the one and only! How I ache to serve You! How I desire to see Your return and to see Your bride as spotless and beautiful as You see her! I love you so...
Give me a heart to love You and to know You more than anything else on this earth, You are so worthy!
~Amen

I will NOT be the same!

2009-06-17T09:44:00.000-05:00

THE QUESTION that CHANGED MY LIFE-by David Ryser.A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this: Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise. Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old--barely out of diapers--and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, "An enterprise. That's a business." After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha's raised hand, "Yes, Martha." She asked such a simple question, "A business? But isn't it supposed to be a body?" I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, "Yes." She continued, "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, "Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." I didn't dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class.Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?" There is only one answer to her question. The answer is "Yes." The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don't even know Him; and I mean really know Him.... I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not know God--much less love Him. The root of this condition originates in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing. This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ--that's pretty intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don't even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?I was pondering Martha's question again one day, and considered the question, "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?" I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, "What would happen if God stopped paying me?"For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him? Please understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions? It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God.So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute? There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no substitute for unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime). We must choose.-Dr. David Ryser.

Creatively trying to discipline...

2009-06-15T21:56:00.000-05:00

My two youngest kiddo's have been so mean to each other lately.

So when we were out at the awards ceremony, they were just picking and picking at each other so I allowed them to enjoy each other's company by way of holding hands. Josh cried and Jaden egged him on, but after a good 30 minutes they pulled it together and had a great day! Praise the Lord!

Day at the lake..

2009-06-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

Ode to our toilet...

2009-06-14T21:22:00.000-05:00

****I'm sure you are thrilled I chose to share this****

I just have to share that in our kids bathroom has had a tragic loss! We haven't got the courage to discover what else may have been it's demise...Inside we found a plastic hanger and a bouncy ball. I think after these two items and the adventure of having to saw the screws in order to remove it from it's base my father and husband decided not to go digging for anything else...

Here is hubs!! I'm sure he was thrilled to spend his Thursday night removing a hopeless cause of a toilet!

Totally out there...

2009-06-04T09:56:00.000-05:00

Some blogs are funny...
Some blogs are memory makers....
Some blogs are devotional style...
Some blogs are scheduled and diverse...

My blog is an eclectic collection of me..I am a goofy, driven, struggling, passionate, loving, ministry minded believer trying to make sense of all the seasons of my life in a way that honors the Lord..

I will probably go back to more goofy stuff on the blog and "sitcom" moments that constantly occur in our home, but for today, I'm going to bare my heart...

Well thanks to the world wide web, and facebook, lots and lots of friends from the past have been resurfacing. I love it! However, while some connections are amazing to have, others have taken me back in time to memories and insecurities that have been left un-dealt with. Mostly stuff from my childhood...

Some may ask why oh why would you subject yourself to that?? Well let me tell you some things I've learned since those days...
~Most every one deals with some form of insecurity from their past and present...
(so I choose to face it and get over it rather than run and hide from it)
~I desire to deal with my past failures and allow the Lord to heal my heart!
~I serve and surrender to a huge loving God, who has given me life and purpose regardless of my past, and in fact He desires to use it...I trust Him in that, and so I'm excited to see what he has in store.
~While I am disappointed that I am not the tiny girl from day's past, it does not change my value and my sweet loving Jesus has opened doors to live my passions and for that I am more than humbled!
~I'm totally forgiven!
Do you struggle with insecurities from your past??

"June Gloom"??? I don't think so!!

2009-06-02T22:47:00.000-05:00

I have pictures on here of my kiddo's...

Jaden is so fun I love her so!

Could you just eat them up?? I'm such a proud mama!!

My passionate, imaginative, baseball loving dude!

Saturday happies...

2009-04-25T17:25:00.000-05:00

I think I stole that blog title from someone, if is was you...I'm sorry, I just couldn't come up with one on my own...

Went to bed last night at 8:15 and woke at 9:30 AM...You think I was tired?? I was, well I drove and got a Delicious cup of coffee, dropped my daughter at her very own tap class, (that she is wanting and happy to attend***GASP***) and headed to the baseball fields...Josh's team mercied the other team. Jake's team won also! Since Josh's team scored max runs, Coach treated the team to ice cream...it was awesome... came home, watched my very favorite show Gilmore Girls and cooked for two hours did dishes, had half my homemade salsa spill all over the floor...UGH cleaned it up and I'm going to get cleaned up before eating a yummy Mexican meal with friends! Yeah, boring post to read, but it was an incredibly great and wonderful day! Oh yeah, I've not taken many pictures lately because my camera is messed up, but here is a sweet one of my youngest at last weekends tournament..

A note to say HI and a bit of ramblings beside...

2009-04-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Well, what a whirlwind life has been for the past school year! Seems for the last three years each year has held a new and unique flavor of difficulty and trial. Yet tucked in the midst, some of the most amazing treasures have been added to my life! About 7 years ago, I really came to a place in my life where I felt the call of full time ministry and in my very immature mind, I was like, how could I be so blessed to be called to such a task?? While I do agree it is a great blessing, the ideal of the form that blessing comes has taken a great shift! I have no right in and of myself to minister to one single soul, I realize how quickly the flesh takes residence and will win the battle of my will with out a proper and intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus! Even then there is a walking out life's circumstances in the power of the Holy Spirit every day that we are all learning to do effectively!

I have recently had a great moment of discouragement and glory to His Name, I'm not going to relive it here and describe it yet again! Every time I go back to the place, the tears come flooding my eyes and heart...but not I am just saying I theoretically fell hard in something I desperately wanted and worked hard for and fell in fact in front of some people I greatly respect and love! What a lesson I will have learned once it is all said and done! But, I am choosing to get back up and try again, but not until after I allow the Lord to tend to some hurts and broken places that I certainly am aware of at this minute!! LOL, don't you love the vague-ness of this post! Sorry, it is a bit of therapy!

As for the future of this ministry venture???!!! I am pressing on toward the goal of Christ Jesus! However He leads me, I will go! I an heading into His sweet presence for a season, I am taking the summer for intense study and time with Him...no leadership, no ministry(other than family and friends) I have a great outline of some studies I would like to complete and some straight through some different books of the Bible! I am so excited! Time alone with my savior! Oh what a delight!

As for the sweetest blessings, there are some amazing friendships the Lord has placed in my life, some that I wouldn't even have known had I not stepped out in faith as we changed churches a year ago! I am so thankful to the Lord for that! I am so thankful His Word is truth and how He says so perfectly that the Truth shall set you free! And whom the Lord set free is free indeed! I want to be free! Praise the Lord! I have one very dear friend the Lord has taken the sweetest of circumstances to develop! Praise the Lord for He has shown me that there are sweet lasting friendships to be had! I almost had given up on that thought...not a poor me, I just so have desired that and have had it taken from me so often! I love godly friends! Oh my and the world of blogger friends that are being sweetly developed whew...I love that there are some precious friends that are around the country studying the Word together and being real with one another and loving together and laughing together and hurting together and praying for one another...Oh my how I see the Lords creative use of this technology thing and using it for His sweet glory and purposes! What a sweet delight! Worship is a great delight! What a motivator and time of conviction and blessing to worship the God of creation!

I told you this would be a rambling...

I have found that I don't blog often because I am a relational person and since so rarely do people comment I don't really know if anyone even reads my blog or even cares...LOL, not a poor me thing, just I formed this blog for friends and family to follow what we are up to since we are so long distance from EVERYONE, I don't even think family reads it...LOL.. so that is the reason I don't really blog very often! I should do a better job of daily life blog entries, because we are a hysterical bunch with goofy things happening everyday...

OK well, I'm going to head off my kids are getting a bit demanding and I need to attend to them... I love you all.....

Tiffany

2009-04-17T12:32:00.001-05:00

Well, it is noon and we have arrived at the day of the event! Oh my is it raining! Oh my is it just coming down! Last night the Lord gave me such scriptures that would encourage my heart! We have prayed for this event for so many weeks, for me it has been months and months...We are going down in faith the Lord has a plan and a place for us!

Deut. 32:1-4
Give ear O heavens, and I will speak;
And hear I earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
as raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass,
For I proclaim the name of the LORD
Ascribe the greatness to our God
He is the Rock, His work is perfect
For all His ways are justice
A God of truth and without injustice
Righteous and upright is He.

Whew...what a word! I Pray that the Lord will use my mouth like clay and mold is how He sees fit! That all praise and all glory be unto Him alone, I have been touched and blessed and quickened and changed by the message He has to speak!

LORD, You are holy and just! You are the ONE we love and adore! We come to serve You and lift you up!
As to the interactive radar, the storms look to be moving out of the area with in an hour or so! Dry ground Lord...please give us dry ground, yet the hearts of the people Lord would be fertile ground for the planting of the seed of Your Word!!! Oh that the hearts of these students would be drawn to the hearing of Your Word tonight! That we would have such favor...super natural favor in the hearts of students as they plan their evening draw them Lord draw them! That the people in Common Grounds would be drawn to enter Your Holy Presence as we worship and adore You! Let not one leave unchanged for Your glory! You Lord it is all about You and we are so privileged to serve You! Let the sound be with out glitch Lord bless the Worship team and their hearts as they lead us into Your sweet presence Lord that You would richly abide in our midst tonight and throughout the ministry at Baylor! Loft up the whole team tonight, what a sacrifice to get down there and time away from families and Lord I ask you to bless the families! Bless my family Lord as they are sharing me for the furtherance of Your amazing Gospel! Lord God you are everything to me and to us...

Tiffany Morse
For His Glory

I wish all my days with the kids were this sweet!

2009-03-06T11:22:00.001-06:00

What is going on in our world???

2009-03-06T07:56:00.000-06:00

Well, this is the busiest time of the year! Baseball season! Practices are in full swing and recital preparations are under way. I love this time of year as it flies by and before we know it we will be back on the boat (thank you Daddy) basking in the sun! I love this time of year! I'm preparing the garden for planting (love that it is early March and I'm in the garden already) , and getting all the ideas in place for the next phase of backyard landscape. I love it!

I got a swivel chair for my study! My rear kept going numb from the dining chair that I was sitting in. I'm not sure hubs was thrilled I chose this paycheck to purchase in, but I assure you, my rump is thrilled and not feeling the least bit guilty.

My husband is slowly becoming a master griller! We love to BBQ and I'm so thankful we have moved past the everything jerky stage! YUM!!!

Oh and I'm going to the LPL conference in Memphis this year! I am sooooooooooo excited to meet up with all the Siestas and learn and laugh and eat and you name it we are going to have a blast. That isn't until October, and we have a lot of living to do before that takes place!

Last thing, 6 weeks exactly until Baylor "live"...that is 42 days!!

Happy Friday...

2009-03-06T07:40:00.000-06:00

Have you ever noticed I never and I do mean never have any creative titles for my blog posts...

OK, so this has been a fabulous week indeed. I had my brother here Monday-Thursday and we had the best time.. one thing about Johnny, he never changes, his humor gets me to the gut every time! I have to say, in the stage of life that I am in (creating a non-prof ministry) he was right on time! God's time! What a blast to have the Lord open my ears and my understanding to hear some of the advice he had to give...
~People over estimate what they can do in a year, but under estimate what they can do in ten. Perhaps this is old news to you, but to me it was a huge challenge!
~As I head into this ministry I need a business plan, normally I would have rolled my eyes and smiled politely, but I am going into a world of chaos and I definitely need a clear plan.
~Set the bar high!! It will determine how far you can go! Normally this would be like nails on a chalk board to me, but in all actuality, after the past two years of ministry with people I can see the value of this! Not perfect people, intentional and consistent. Indeed gifted in the area's they are called to serve in...hmmm food for thought!
~ I think I even agreed to read some books on business***gasp*** if you know me at all you know that I am VERY selective of the things I read! Has to be God!

We were undoubtedly disappointed to see him go! But since he is going to be serving Texas in his job from time to time, we shall see him a lot more! My kids need their Uncle Johnny, so I am VERY VERY thrilled with this arrangement!

Today we are going to go to the zoo. The kids and I are going to head over after the field trip kids leave and enjoy a few hours looking at animals and playing around. Since we are going to have a windy 80 degree day, I think it will be lovely! I'm charging the camera battery as we speak.

I'll check in with you later and post about the zoo and other stuff that is going on in our world! To anyone who is out there reading...BECAUSE I NEVER HEAR FROM ANY OF YOU!!!! UGH!!!

Love ya!

The best part of waking up...

2009-03-04T08:05:00.001-06:00

It is 8AM in our home, the dogs are fighting and Jake and I are hanging out...in a few minutes he will help me clean the kitchen and we will head off to his school! The two younger kiddo's are still sleeping. I know this post is riveting, but Jake thought is would be interesting to see how this blogging thing works!

Jake does say "HI" perhaps he will come up with something far more insightful for the next time we post together! Blessings from the the Morse Family!!

Check this out!

2009-03-03T18:30:00.000-06:00

www.iamsecond.com

I was floored and completely blessed by this web site!! I kept seeing Jason Castro's picture on this billboard around town with the web address, I wanted to check it out and now today through a face book post of a friend, I checked it out and I was completely blessed!

I have an announcement!!!!

2009-02-27T08:46:00.000-06:00

I have not made a huge point of talking about my ministry ventures on this blog and I will probably keep it randomly added as this blog is more for other things but I can't resist!!!! As many of you know, I have been in college ministry for the past few years! I have been all over the map emotionally with it as real live ministry is messy and hard...there are ups and downs and *whew* it is a roller coaster...

So this year the Lord has led me to Baylor University to disciple a group of girls, which I will continue to do as he allows, but in addition to this wonderful ministry the Lord has led me to put on a "live" event. Crazy!!! As most of you know I am completely administratively challenged, it is simply not my gifting and so this has been an adventure to say the least! But Glory to the Name of my Lord Jesus...and after much faith whew...we are booked for our very first For His Glory event!! How on earth I am privileged to be able to lead this ministry in that direction is beyond me, but nonetheless, it is happening. I didn't sleep a wink last night, my mind was racing and racing...who knows if anyone will show up, but now we actually get to advertise and proactively plan...

I am so excited and blessed and floored and nervous and ...you name it I'm going crazy! Those of you who know me well I am an over enthusiastic exclamation mark of a person...Crazy in love with Jesus! I just can't believe I get to really do this thing...

Y'all I needed a cup of coffee today...

2009-02-06T09:34:00.001-06:00

Good morning, my bloggy peeps! I am sitting in my study getting ready to head on down to Baylor, my windows are open and there is this delicious whisper of a breeze...my wonderful worship is filling my home with sounds of a faithful God being praised and out side my window somewhere I seriously here baby birds chirping. My cup runneth over!

Then to top it all off, the Lord has given me the most amazing Word for my Baylor discipleship group. I hope to share some of it, if you want to hear please comment, or I will forget to post it!

A big shout out to my dearest friend in the whole world Kara who gave me this Giant coffee mug to enjoy this morning...

Jennyhope, this is for you...

2009-01-31T17:42:00.000-06:00

2009-01-28T09:12:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to the blogger world, one might say! Yes it has been awhile and I honestly cannot say how often and consistently I will write, but what I do know is that I love to update family and friends on the happenings in our world, I value each and every person who may happen upon this blog!

So I've included pictures here but my text is not going to necessarily go with it so I will at least give you the run down in this paragraph...We now have two puppies! Chloe we got two months ago, is the sweetest animal we have ever known. she is tender and obedient and smart, however, we desire to have some extra protection since we live in an area that while it is beautiful, is unpredictable in the times in which we live. So we got another pup yesterday to provide some companionship and extra security.
"Preacher" is his name. He is so little, smaller than Chloe was when we got her...he is 8 weeks old today while Chloe is 17 weeks...

My kids are getting older and so stinking fun.

Jake will be 11 in March and is just simply a delight. He is excited for some baseball. He is totally enthralled with the guitar and practices on the electric guitar nonstop. I have to say I do love it and do not mind. I can totally tune out the nonsense of loudness if I have too.

Jaden is 9 and loves singing and hip hop. It is so cute! I love to watch her concentrate as she learns a new combination and then as she works to learn it. It's fun to watch your children apply themselves don't you think? She may play softball this spring, which will be fun, baseball genes run deep in our family so...

Josh is 7 and baseball all the way...star wars and light savers..and

cars and tools and taking everything apart! Cannot wash his clothes with out checking the pockets! At night he is always cuddled with various goodies like batteries and parts to different

expensive flashlights.

As some of the pictures might elude, we are in the process of changing the house up a bit! I'm painting the house a grey color and will be using black and red to accent..I was so tired of looking at stained carpet so I ripped it out, why not?? Now we look at the messy concrete slab, which honestly I don't mind at all!!! Perfect for training puppies! Dust has gone down and now we will get our wood back!

I love the picture here, you see where we left off painting! LOL, don't you just love it!

Well, I'm going to head off for now, I hope to write again soon. Blessings..

~Mamma~

2009-01-22T11:46:00.000-06:00

Her worth is far above rubies!

She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms.

She extends her hand to the poor.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her house is clothed!

Strength and honor are her clothing.

She shall rejoice in the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom.

She watches over household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

I WILL RISE AND CALL HER BLESSED...

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD she shall be praised!

~This is my mother, isn't she beautiful? I wish to proclaim that what Satan meant for evil the LORD GOD has made good! The ashes God has turned to beauty! My mother carries the weight of a testimony one would dread, but she has transparently shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ and many will see the glory of salvation because she chose to fight..

I honor you mom! May my daughter carry on your testimony and walk in the ways of the Lord as you!

My Daddy!

2009-01-22T11:40:00.000-06:00

I know this is a random post, but I have this wonderful picture of my father and I thought I would post and say...I love my father, he had worked faithfully to allow my mom to stay home and raise 3 kids allow for her to do full time ministry and he himself to love people for the Lord Jesus! I love you daddy, thank you for loving unconditionally always. Love hopes all things, believes all things, always patient, always kind, it does not envy and it is not self seeking! I am not writing this Scripture out verbatim, I just out of memory am throwing out the attributes I know of your character..I bless you!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T10:17:00.000-06:00

Good Morning/afternoon/evening/night!

It is January 1, my whole family is still in bed, I'm up putzing through my morning in total silence. It is wonderful. I have so much on my heart and so many bloggable moments over the past month, I wonder if they will ever make it to the page, nonetheless, I shall try to give both family fodder and depth of insight(LOL) as I can muster the intelligence to pull together.

I suppose the best way to publish this post is to make a running countdown for the events of December and a few reflective anecdotes of the year in review.

Thanksgiving, we had friends new and old over for a wonderful meal and time of fellowship(that sounds stuffy) Soon after, Maybe it was even that morning, Randall and I decided to let the kids have their Christmas gifts since we weren't going to take our Christmas up to New Meadows, ID(more details later on). those who know Randall and I would not be the least surprised at this nonsense as we don't always do things traditionally or in a way that makes sense to every one. Can I say that this make for one of the best Christmases ever! I not once heard can I have...I want...I need...blah blah blah...We spent the entire month of December attending all the Christmas traditions for the typical American Christian family(i.e.childrens programs, choir performance, parties...)Everything seemed to have different meaning.

The first weekend in Dec, was our "nerdy Christmas party". I hung the lights on the house this year with duct tape, (Randall hasn't helped me hang lights in 4 years and I was determined to get them up, brick doesn't make that an easy task) just in time for the guests showing up. We had so much fun...(posting pictures below). Randall really gets into this kind of stuff for some reason...

Jaden sung in the Christmas children's choir and she made me so proud.

The following week end was the Church choir performance...I had choreographed for one of the adult #'s and it was nice to see it come together. Meanwhile I had a terrible case of strep..oh well there is too much to do...that is what medicine is for...I had to skip out on one night of the performances to go to Randall's annual company holiday party, they take us out to a fabulously fancy restaurant and I get to dress up and hang out with my man. We went to this organic pasta restaurant in Downtown Dallas called VillaO. I spent two hours curling my hair(huge feet for me, I don't take time to do stuff like that) I got several compliments, felt very embarrassed and got to be pretty for the night...Randalls company is owned by a Jewish family and I was honored to sit next to the wife, I was completely smitten listening to her talk about their visits to Israel, there is something so cool about seeing Israel through the eyes of a Jew! Made my whole night! Good hair and talking to a Jew. What can I say I'm odd!

Third week was pretty much uneventful, Just preparing for the trip, teaching classes as usual and getting excited and nervous for the drive and time in one cabin with all the family.

We left for ID on Thursday night, I had the through the night shift and was supposed to be able to sleep during the day(not). I knew I was in trouble when two Benadryl didn't take the edge off and I was up and hour later.. In Colorado Springs, I met up with a blogger friend and it was the coolest thing ever. We had Starbucks and talked... I slept a bit through the Rockies and then...night fall and Randall starts getting tired...UGH I took over in Salt Lake City...I DO NOT LIKE SALT LAKE CITY NIGHT TIME SNOW DRIVING IN SALT LAKE CITY!!! Especially after a NoDoz...When the roads began to look different like are they wet?? are they ice??? is tat snow?? I couldn't tell, mind you my heart is now pounding, Randall is asleep and...tired and caffeine and snow on bridges don't go together for me! I woke Randall and not two seconds after I lifted my foot off the gas, a car comes by my and skids out of control and crashes into the center median...Praise you Jesus! I was OK, but ten as we passed about 3-5 other crashes I'm like get me off this road!

ARE YOU TOTALLY OVERWHELMED WITH BOREDOM OF MY POST???

We made it after 36 hours...UGH

I will continue this post another time!! Starting with the vacation!

What a rollercoaster...just another random post...

2008-12-10T12:24:00.000-06:00

I have had a full week and it is only 12:30PM on Wed... Monday was a busy day, they always are, we have co-op for homeschooling and then dance and then taxi service...(which has lessened now that college has let out!) Tuesday was bound to be an off day as I didn't have a good game plan for the kids...we had an errand to run for Sandra and some how we got caught in the day and it so got away from me. What stinks is that it was my daughters birthday. She made out trust me! My now 9 year old has an ipod, and thanks to her Nana and Papa a radio to play it on. She also got a charm bracelet with fun charms on it! Fun for her! So fun! You know I am thinking I will make a post just for her and tell you about my girl! She is so beautiful and gifted! You'll really enjoy getting to know her. (another post hmmmm)
Yesterday after putting the kids in bed EARLY, I thought either I'm going to take some PM Tylenol or I need to get out of this house...I opted to go to ballet and it was lovely! Just enough of a scenery change to get me out of my funk and trust me I was in a funk! I really didn't want to hang out with myself, hence the just go to bed thing...

Here we are today and I enjoyed my quiet-ish time and the Lord really gave me some direction for For His Glory which is the ministry part of my life, and now here we are. I'm about to get out of here to run errands and I am so excited, it really is a good day!

2008-12-09T14:36:00.000-06:00

Christmas meme
I got this off the Simple wife (blog) so I am going to do it and if you would like to join is please do!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?Coffee. Or coffee with Hot Chocolate

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?Santa doesn't bring us presents

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?White. with duct tape..LOL

4. Do you hang mistletoe?Nope!

5.When do you put your decorations up? As soon as I want to...usually Mid-November

6. What is your favorite holiday dish ? All the holiday choices!

. 7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Driving to San Jose and spending the holidays with cousins, and Uncle Joedy

8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Probably around six or seven, and I told everybody else once I learned!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?Yes--pajamas.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Family mish mosh

11. Snow. Love it or dread it?Love it.

12. Can you ice skate?Oh yeah. Backwards a bit too!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Jesus.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Sees Candies

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas music and playing games, enjoying the days of the season.
.
17. What tops your Christmas tree? An Angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?Giving. ( Especially when the funds are there to give)

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?Right now? "Ring the Bells" by Travis Cottrell.(my youngest comes running to me and wants to attach to me while I waltz around.)

20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?I could take them or leave them.

21. What do you want for Christmas? A Christ centered holiday, not just the day, but the whole thing!

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? Yep Randall has a party for work that I like to go to, it usually involves a very gourmet dinner.

23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?Dress up for church and ten wear PJ's

24. Do you own a Santa hat?Nope.

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
My immediate family!

Happy Monday~

2008-12-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

Checking in with my bloggy world! How are you all doing today? It is Monday December 7Th, can you even believe it? Time is flying by. We are having a wonderful Christmas season. We have simplified our Christmas so much, that I feel completely oblivious to the commercialized hustle and bustle. I have to say, I love it. We are still shopping and enjoying the sights and sounds of the season and loving it.

Last night, we had our church's children's program and it was so delightful. Joshua was sick this weekend, so he was unable to participate, but Jaden and I went over and did our part. She sang in the children's choir, and I was so much more touched than I thought I would be. It was fun to see her. I have a few pictures of her during rehearsal, I will see what I can find to post.

Saturday evening we had a "nerdy" Christmas party and it was a total blast! most every one came dressed to impress, some were really inspired by the movie Christmas Vacation! A lot of versions of Eddie made an appearance and that was a hoot! One was the Eddie in a bathrobe with the fun ear muff hat, another was dressy Eddie with the green Dickie under the white sweater, even with white belt and white alligator type shoes, y'all it was so funny. If you have never been to a party like this I suggest you host one. We even had the white elephant gift exchange wit a homemade toilet and homemade slippers. Seriously my sides hurt from laughing so much!

This week we are doing the regular scheduled program. Schooling and co-op and the like. I am really enjoying my children! If I had known I would fall in love with my kids all over again by homeschooling, I think I never would have put them in school to begin with. However, I don't think I would or even could fully appreciate them with out the contrast in their behavior and in our home.

Chloe the puppy is one week in our home and we are loving her. She is SO calm and very smart. And she doesn't take forever to figure out that when we go outside, it is for a purpose not for play. Potty first, play second. Hello!!!! It's wonderful.

The most unique news of the week: We finally have Christmas lights! Hurray!!! OK so I've promised my kids for four years we would have lights and after MANY hours of failed attempts to get them on the house, we resorted (aka I resorted) to duct tape...so far it has worked seamlessly and brought hours of delight and ridicule! Which I happily endure for the sake of my children having a "magically" lit house for the holidays! You know you're a red neck when...

Happy Monday y'all I love you so!

Happy Thursday my bloggy peeps

2008-12-04T08:48:00.000-06:00

I don't have anything particularly alluring to post, just a hello. I've been going crazy with some things in my world and it just stinks because life can sure be tough... But I had a most wonderful time in the Word this morning:

When the Israelites had just crossed the Red Sea and the Lord led them into the wilderness. They were thirsty. Moses cut down a tree and threw it into the waters of Marah and the waters went from bitter to sweet. I am in a really bitter situation right now and my temptation is to become bitter (I have bowed to that temptation a bit here lately). But I was completely convicted when the realization came that the tree Moses through into the water, the tree??? the cross, the Lords Cross which is mine through salvation, made the waters sweet! I know that the Old Testament is loaded with symbolism and it can be hard to understand, but this one was pretty clear, Jesus, because of His work on the cross, when applied to this bitter soul, will turn my bitterness into sweetness and heal my hurt, my aching heart. That is what I want!

If you are reading this and feel led to pray for me, I humbly say thank~you! But I also return that to you, if you need prayer through something you are working through, I am a willing heart to serve you in this way.

Blessings to you and yours,
Tiffany

Out of the mouths of babes...

2008-12-02T20:55:00.000-06:00

I cooked dinner the other day, and it never fails to amaze me when my kids continue to be so different from each other...my youngest was in love with dinner and ate three helpings, he of course is skin and bones...my eldest sat at the dinner table for an hour with out progress and he towers over all kids his own age...After the other two were dismissed he looks up at me and says..."why is it that I savor the food I hate and hardly taste the food I love?"

Y'all I was so convicted and the teacher in me started twirling sermons and lessons...LOL

Why do we do that, when something in life is distasteful we tend to keep in in our mouths and chew and chew and gag, yet when we have amazing times and blessings, we consume and simply want more rather than savour the good and get over and just deal with the bad?

HMMM, food for thought, literally..!!

Introducing our newest addition...Chloe

2008-12-01T12:10:00.000-06:00

Sick Days...

2008-11-24T10:08:00.000-06:00

You know I love sick days with my children. My kids are very busy and independent, which I love, because it is such a joy to see them live life and grow and play. Even now with homeschooling, I love to watch them learn. What a joy it is to see them get something that has been hard for them to grasp. You know how much more does the Lord Jesus delight in us in the same way! To watch us grow in Him and to learn about Him! As we go about in the world He created for us to live and enjoy, He watches in delight!

The one thing that comes with precious independent kids as they grow, they seem to desire snuggles less and less, the quality time we spend with them becomes more about practicalities and adventure rather than just simply sitting still and being loved. A small child comes to mom and dad with their booboo's and want them to be kissed and cared for, but as that child grows they begin to "suck it up" rather than bother anyone with their pain.

AHHH but sick days...

When my kids get sick, they become a bit more still and receptive to my nurturing touch. I get to put a cloth on their face to cool their fever, rub their backs, even my 5ft 10 year old will sit in my lap and desire sit still time...

As I was pondering sick days, not the kind where the kids are on their "death bed", but the kind that just requires extra R&R...I realized that our sweet Father in Heaven may just also desire us as His children to have sick days, that we might stop our independent ways to climb up into His heavenly lap and let Him love us the way He so desires to! I don't tend to climb into His lap when I'm well and about doing whatever I'm doing..(especially the things I'm doing for Him)and He calls me in sick just so I'll stop and let Him love me..You know I'm a bit convicted!

I hope over the holidays I stop everyday, even as I'm serving all those I'm called to serve, and just climb into His lap and let Him love me. I pray also that you might find a moment where you can play hooky from all you've got going on, just to "hang out" with our God. Blessings to you! Tiffany

Skunk video...downsized to the last 3 minutes!

2008-11-24T10:03:00.001-06:00

Sandra fights...with skunk, Randall hides in car

2008-11-24T00:22:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our little corner of the world, don't you know that every weird thing that happens, somehow finds its way into our life experiences...

Sandra, was getting ready to come upstairs for the evening and heard scratching at the garage door. Thinking it was the cat, she opened it to see a creature with black and white stripes...aka skunk..

After an hour of man vs. wild we finally got the outcome we desired.. removal.

I will post the 18 minute video as soon as it is uploaded into YouTube!!! I hope you enjoy.

Sunday Morning...

2008-11-23T08:07:00.000-06:00

It's not lookin' pretty, me that is! I woke to the pitter of little feet this morning, well actually it was the feet of my oldest Jake and he does not have little feet. They are larger than mine! We have been hanging out a bit this Sunday morning. Jake loves to have time with just me, he is so tender and thoughtful and we get to discuss deep topics. Honestly its time I greatly look forward to!

I shouldn't be on here this morning, but I thought I would take the moment to blog a bit. Now I need to get a shower and have some COFFEE!! Love y'all!

Way more Homemade inspired...Thanksgiving...

2008-11-21T23:15:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving at my house... well, I love the holidays, I can tell you! I start putting the Christmas music on well before the normal person deems acceptable. Late Sept/early Oct.
No I didn't start out 13 years ago in my marriage saying we will celebrate Christmas for three months, it kinda just happened. I love to have my house decorated before Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the ambiance for Turkey Day.

I DO NOT enjoy getting up early, but I prepare the turkey the night before, and place it in the oven at 5AM (which on this day I don't mind early) at like 250degrees and it bakes for 8 hours! I put it in a bag and cook it upside down, and the thing is so tender and juicy and oh my so good!!!
By the time I re-wake up, the house smells of Turkey and it's wonderful!

We never have the same crowd twice, as both sides of our family live states away and so we are on our own. I love to cook this meal and regardless it gets made... I put pickles and olives out for the kids to pick at all morning, and they love it!

We eat around 1/2ish and it is lovely, Turkey and mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and mac'n'cheese, stuffing/dressing, rolls and lots of gravy! by dinners end football is back on the TV and if there is o company I'll nap, but if there is company, we will fellowship and maybe play a game or something! I love it, I wish every year for a full house, I don't often get one, but that means that those around me are around there own families and they are blessed and not alone and that makes me so Thankful!

We may have Egyptian believers this year as our guests! What a privilege it will be to love on them in our home! Hope you've enjoyed my small glimpse of a holiday tradition from our family to yours!

Blonder than I pay to be

2008-11-19T14:08:00.000-06:00

So I got back home from Baylor last night, and I was on cloud 9 recalling the Lords favor on the evening and excited to be home... I was multi tasking and getting everything packed up to take in the house, light on so I can see, keys in pocket, purse, pop the trunk, open door, lock it so I don't have to worry, get Bible study bag out of trunk....go inside feeling much accomplished, wait, where are the keys???

Well they would have fallen out of my pocket onto the seat, and the lights were on inside to show off my mistake...

So today, I am stranded at the house with a dead car and keys stuck inside and a husband who is very upset with me. UGH I sure wish I could succeed at more aspects of my life.

Joshua's signature

2008-11-11T21:44:00.000-06:00

Randall was not happy that is for sure!

Randall called me today, Joshua apparently created his signature on the hood of our new Honda!

Week End Events: part 2

2008-11-11T21:26:00.000-06:00

Saturday:
~wake up super early Randall took Sandra to school for a test, I took the kids over to the camp out for breakfast we had eggs BACON and all the fixins...
~ The kids played hard until it was time to go to Joshua's baseball tournament,
~ I laughed so hard with the girls while sitting in front of the fire it was so so refreshing! Pure and sweet fellowship! It does exist!
~Randall took Josh home to get his cleats, he forgot them.
~I picked Sandra up from school drove to get food and take it to the flields
~Spent 4 hours at the baseball fields where we got destroyed...(the team is new)
~vegetated the rest of the evening
SUNDAY
~church in the AM,
~left a bit early to go to yet another loss of a baseball game..
~facebooked the rest of the day
~church PM

For those of you who might have read this whole post and have yet another after it which is just the way they post...I thought you might find our crazy life a bit of a read! If you couldn't bare to get through it, no loss I will blog in a different style most every other time! Love you!! Tiff

photo from the theater

2008-11-11T21:24:00.000-06:00

After four tries, I'm still not happy with this photo, oh well! We are on our way to the Stinky Cheese Man play!

Week End Events:

2008-11-11T20:19:00.000-06:00

Friday: Wake and dress for a theater date with my son Jake...take photo (4 attempts)
~enjoy The Stinky Cheese Man
~receive phone call from Randy the, 50% off sale outer wear Old Navy jackets we ordered for the kids for our trip to ID for Christmas, well this order went through 4 times and overloaded the credit card so it was completely unavailable for Randall's business trip UGH, he was NOT happy!
~Went to Chipotle for lunch!
~On the way home I get a phone call from the lunch lady at the kids school and Joshua lost his lunch from the time he left the house to the time he got to school...really he left it in Randall's car...So Randy had to go over to give it to him...NOT happy!
~Went to Kara's to see the new kitty, so cute
~Kids come home and we get ready for camp out
~Drive over to campgrounds(very happy they are just 5 miles away)
~get lost on site
~husband who still hadn't made it home from work when we set out made it to the campsite before we did!
~Major dinner prepared at 5 star camp set-up!
~Eat and fellowship.
~took a walk and after two hours of quiet time with the Lord went back to enjoy the delights of children playing with out worries, men gathering them together to take a hike(20+ people) took a hike, while the rest of us laughed and relaxed by the fire!
~around 10PM Randall and I headed home to sleep because of his back!

Welcome to Facebook!

2008-11-11T20:14:00.000-06:00

OK I have found facebook and it is way too much fun! And also my husband has found Facebook! He is hilarious, he is getting friends and making comments, it makes me laugh so hard. I just had to share that delight with you!

So at the end of a very long day we unwind and vegetate next to each other on Facebook..

2008-11-11T16:46:00.000-06:00

Y'all know what, there has been so much to blog about recently, I have been overwhelmed with it, please have patience and I will try to get it all done! But I thought you would enjoy the fact that my kids are outside playing and having a great time, there is a fire in the outside pit and the kids are getting along playing baseball! How nice! I'm off to cook dinner and I tell you what, during my down time tonight with Randall, I will try to get some of these fun stories out of my head and into blog form... Love ya! tiff

Fall photos

2008-11-01T12:23:00.000-05:00

This morning, after four years with out family photos, we broke down to get some beautiful pictures. these are not the professional ones, those won't be for about a month, but here is our own shots.

Jaden and Randall

Joshua

Jake

Randall and the boys

The kids

the kids again

Jaden

Here I am, this is my ministry shot, but also thought I would post it here...

Note to self..."I will be nice"

2008-11-01T12:19:00.000-05:00

Jaden is writing things to change her attitude!
Josh is writing to change his attitude

When not getting along what else is there to do except sit facing each other holding hands until we learn to get along, or at least to tolerate one another.

www.ministryforhisglory.com

2008-10-24T21:47:00.000-05:00

I have to say that I officially have a website with a design logo for ministry. What a cool day!

I have been looking forward to this but haven't had the prompting of the Lord to move forward. But about 6 weeks or so ago the Lord intorduced me to a "graphics design guy" for lack of a better term...

Well here it is, I am so so so excited. I shall post it here to show it to you. May the Lord Himself direct every path and every step as I go forth to spread His Word! For His Glory!!!

Borrowed from Life at 7000 feet

2008-10-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

http://www.lifeat7000feet.com/

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall?
Uh-huh. I like all the seasons, Each have benefits and each have down sides!
Who is your favorite Disney princess?
Cinderella.
What's the last book you read?
Sunset by Karen Kingsbury...
What book are you reading right now?
BIBLE
Name one "presidential" memory (an election you remember as a child, voting for the first time, etc.)
I remember sitting on my dads shoulders while we were at a Regan rally... Later when it was airing on TV You could see me in the crowd. Kind of fun.
What are 3 things that scare you/freak you out?
1. That I would be out of the Lords will.
2. That I would no longer hear His voice
3. That I can hurt people by careless words
If you were running for office, what would your campaign slogan be?
I'm not sure, anything I'm thinking just sounds cheesy and forced.
What is your favorite football team(s)?
Philadelphia Eagles
Do you have anything particular that you're looking forward to this Fall?
Yep. Our first fire of the year! I can't wait, oh and decorating the house with lights for Christmas!
Are you craving anything right now?
Nope, I'm good. Oh wait, I'm craving COFFEE!

Tuesday is Baylor Day!!!!

2008-10-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

I am off to Baylor, one of the things that I look so forward to is going to Baylor University and talkin Bible with a few girls...three came through Dallas and stopped to see me while I was teaching dance it made my day! I love it when all my worlds collide! I'm needing prayer though! Always feel the weight of self on days I minister! God has a plan and I want to be walking in it, you know what I mean. I believe transparent is the word for tonight! I am still waiting on the Lord to confirm! We have such a great time and the Lord speaks a great Word over us each time! I'll catch up here soon. Tiff

It's Monday!

2008-10-20T08:17:00.000-05:00

Well its a Baylor week, and I think I am EXCITED!

This has been one of the biggest blessings and thrills of my life. I can't believe it. I have to tell you that I can sense the enemy trying to steal my joy where this is concerned and for some reason, I am having to fight to keep my defiant J-O-Y why defiant you might ask, because I desire joy to be defiant of my circumstances. For several weeks really I have some situations that have been highly discouraging and I am having to daily make choices with my attitude and my thoughts. Been there? Funny my circumstances don't seem to be changing any time soon...

Yesterday we enjoyed the going into His Sanctuary and worshipping with other believers and I needed to be there, I have to be honest to say nothing gets in my way to worship more than my own stuff. Bleh! Yesterday was no different, not circumstances, I usually can fight through those and bring the praise due to the LORD, however I stuck my foot in my mouth and hurt someone very unintentionally and well, lets just say, it ruined the rest of the services for me, I just kept journaling and praying and repenting! EEEK! Lord help me will I ever learn, probably not, a great deal of the Bible is discussing how impossible it is to control the tongue.. It is filled with deadly poison. AAAHHH! Funny thing is the words were harmless and in good fun, however when someone else is going through a tough time words can magnify hurt and well yesterday they did. I am very sad!

On another note today is our home school co-op day and I promised Jake if he did his work and brought everything to the school, we could stay all morning and play and eat lunch, so we have a great and fun morning ahead of us there, and I hope to get some work aka Bible study in for teaching tomorrow! If you are moved to pray for Baylor, please do, God is moving in the lives of these girls! It's my privilege to serve them in this way.

I would love to fill you in more, but we're leaving in 5 minutes and I'm still in my PJ's!

Do you know that I love you? Anyone who is checking up on us, and reading this, thanks for being interested in our little corner of the world. Tiffany

Tounrament weekend!

2008-10-12T15:25:00.000-05:00

Jake had a fabulous tournament weekend. Jake pitched two games this weekend and NO walks today. Each of the runs were on errors the team made. He had on fabulous catch when the hitter hit a line drive straight at him and he caught it. I think he giggled! He hit a triple and two doubles. Great hitter! Ask his sister (LOL). Joshua and Jaden only sat out with me one time out for thirty minutes ( they were fighting AGAIN) Jake also threw one pitch that smacked a kid right in the side. If y'all could have heard the thump you'd have known how hard he threw that ball. Go Jake!

Beth Moore

2008-10-10T13:58:00.001-05:00

Beth teaching away! 5 hours folks! I could have sat for 5 more...Can't get enough of the WORD of our Living God!

Way More Home Made, my Bsf siesta buddy, being goofy sitting in the teachers spot

Here we are in the front row!!

I am teachin' with those hands HMMM any one who has had to endure my teaching knows I DONOT know how to keep my hands still! LOL

Jadens talent show!!!! You don't have to watch the whole thing you'll get the jist after 45 secands LOL

2008-10-10T13:53:00.000-05:00

Mid October Delights

2008-10-10T13:13:00.001-05:00

Joshua reading a book
Jaden was just complaining to me that her friend has become the bossy one, I'm not so sure here is a picture claiming otherwise...AHHH so sweet
Jake reading
Josh watching Jake's game after a sad loss...

You know I think she might be tired! Whats your thoughts? After the talent show, video to follow soon, still uploading...

By this time, we are into total routine and I'm getting a bit more acclimated to running around like a chicken with my head cut off...I've never actually seen this happen, but I'm sure it is a sight.

I thought I would post a few pictures of the family since it has been too long!

The kids are getting bigger by the minute and so you need to see them! I hope to have a video of the girl doing her talent show routine, I don't claim any of the choreography, it is playground choreography, her and her friend! So look for it, it's uploading on YouTube.com as I'm writing this.,

Sandra is doing well and very busy, looking into her options for next year.

Jake is finishing up baseball and has a tournament this weekend,

Josh has three more games(all rain make ups)

Jaden is really loving acrobatics and hip hop

Randall is loving football fantasy league and Eagles not doing great, loving baseball and getting ready to teach me all the ins and outs of shooting so I know how to well...LOL
I am running and running and trying to get caught up on sleep any moment I can, building a ministry, running a house and teaching dance, becoming a chauffeur can drain a person, don't you know...what did I do before Coffee??

those that know me well, know that I am already listening to Christmas music and longing for all my card friends to come play games like hearts LOL HMMMM am I going to try to run them again and again, you'll just have to see.

Baylor update!

2008-10-08T12:20:00.001-05:00

What a blast we had getting into the Word last night. I am telling you God is up to something. I am humbled and excited to be apart of it! We have been gathing every other week for the past six weeks and last night was our third gathering. Week one we talked about Psalm 1 and the choice we need to make...we are blessed when we delight in the ways of the Lord that we need to be intentional not to walk in the way of those who don't disire the things of God. We actually did a bit of Exegesis as we lookied into the original message throught he original language. What a group of troupers, I am certainly not spoon feeding them, they are helping prepare a feast of Gods Word. How precious then it was to partake of the meal together.Week two we discussed foundation! How in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 as believers we have our foundation in Christ but we need to take heed how we build! This was a very heavy time in the Word! I came into this teaching time with an idea of what the Lord was going to speak and about half way through I realized it was a heavy and very different message than expected. So many wonderful and tender tears in the eyes of my girls...I see every one and I respect those tears! Life is hard and Gods Word often cuts to the quick, but the thing that grows back is healed and pure! I love the LORD's way, but it hurts deeply at times!!Last night week three, I can share in much more depth as I am just coming out of it!! I will list for you the scriptures we used and a bit of commentary of what we discussed!2 Peter 1:5-10Galatians 5:22-25Romans 8:4-5Luke 6:43-45We discussed the life we are building in Christ and how essential it is to walk in the Spirit!That the patience the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned is the kids where we are patient with people ad it requires supernatural intervention! That the fruit of the Spirit is what is produced when we are walking in the power and filling of the Holy Spirit! that we will never accidentally be walking in the Spirit! It will be on purpose. How we need to be intentional of three things in our prayer time in the morning...as learned through a study I personally did...Pour out (to the Lord by confession and also our fears and worries and things we deal with)Pour in (allow the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and our cup will overflow)Pour forth(then we can pour forth to others out of the abundance)-We discussed that tree that is planted next to living water!!!-It is a Fruit (of the Spirit) tree-Each piece of fruit is complete with 9 qualities (nutrients)-the fruit is meant to be eaten by others! We each have a desperate need for the qualities that --are in this fruit( love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self control)-WE really looked at that point, how people are desperately in need of these things! Even I desperately need to be loved! I need joy, and to have peace! That I need others to have patience with me as I am so flawed. I am delighted when others are good to me and are faithful to me. That they are gentle when dealing with me and that theya re not always out of control! We all put ourselves in the "me" place and we agreed we all desires others to share thier fruit with us!-that the tree is planted in dirt and we are formed out of the dirt, so the fact that we are still imperfect and our lives are dirty means we are prime land for seeds to be planted in!-Trees take many years(four full seasons each year) to produce healthy edible fruit.(we need to have patience with our selves while we are in the process...It is Gods timing not ours)-Fruit not eaten just rotsthere are so many more, these are just a few!then out of Luke 6 we talked about how agood tree produces good fruit and a bad tree bad fruit. that out of the treasure that a man hold in his heart, out of the abundance that is in the heart the mouth will speak. This can be a surprising indicator of what we hold as a treasure in our heart! Convicting!! I was tremendously convicted by this time!Now I have revised and summed up a lot of what we talked about...I hope it is blessing to those who read this and you will take the scriptures and study them on your own! It will be in the treasure hunt that these treasures become yours! Blessings! Stay in the Word.TiffanyFor HIS Glory

Catching up

2008-09-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

No I haven't fallen off the planet, although I have to admit I feel like I've inherited a life new and unknown. I've not got any new pictures because the battery on my camera is dead and I haven't the mind to take the battery out and charge it, nor do I have the creative posture to take the pictures in the first place. I will I promise take some adorable photos of these kids and our life. LOL I may even allow myself to be in one. We'll see.

As for our happenings, my life is in the car! I officially became the Morse chauffeur! Glory we found a car pool today! I hope it lasts and we can breath from the gas and time it takes to keep this family running smoothly.

Shall I start at the top, Randall is well doing his usual faithful thing, working at the same company and coaching Josh's baseball team. His Eagles are doing well except the disappointing Cowboys fiasco...

Sandra our honorary daughter is in college and working at Starbucks, and going to school.

Jacob (Jake) is going to co-op and loving it! Homeschooling agrees with him! Praise the LORD!! He is playing baseball for a new team and doing well.

Jaden is my hip hop girl. She is working hard at acrobatics and hip hop and feeling her niche. I am soooooooo happy. She is constantly showing her skills to me and excited for me to be proud of her accomplishments. I think its the sweetest thing ever. I keep hearing the same word describing her "she is such a nut" EEK! Tell me about it!

Joshua baseball is his love and he is very talented, but he is now loving basketball. I think it is so cute to watch. He is full of life.

I am waking early to take Sandra to her job, ministry building, teaching dance, getting Sandra to and from school, as I said earlier in this post, we now have a car pool, Yay! I am thrilled. Every other Tuesday I'm at Baylor and meeting with some very precious girls. BSF started and we are studying the life of Moses and I have a wonderful group. Sandra is doing this as well and is enjoying it I think.

I think this post is prob very boring I promise to be more creative in the future. I just didn't want you to think I've fallen off the edge though it's been tempting.

Deeper still

2008-09-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

Ok so I wasn't at this conference, i just tought this was hilarious. Just to put this out there, I would like to go with some folks to the one in Oklahoma City in Dec...I think its the 4th and 5th. Let me know if your interested in meeting up and having a mini fiesta. Tiff

2008-09-10T11:39:00.001-05:00

Deeper Still - Joyful 2 from on Vimeo.

2008-09-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the night I'm headed down to Baylor to hang with some girls and teach Bible Study. I am so elated. I had a moment so I thought I would just throw this on to say hi! If you think of it pray for me this is a very important thing for me and I could use all the prayers I could get. You know I hope to have some pictures or at least a picture of our time together. I'll post some fun stuff soon. It's funny life has been so stressful that nothing has seemed "blagable" LOL. Love you all.

2008-09-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

Just checking in, I have obviously been playing around with the look of this blog. LOL. I hope to have something more interesting to blog here in the near future. As for what we've been up to,

I've been dancing for a week now. Teaching acrobatics,jazz,and ballet. I actually have 2 ballet classes this year. I'm taking Jazz modern tap and ballet. Another year! I love it, I'm so blessed to have this in my life. The kids started school three weeks ago. Jake will start Monday. Randall is working hard and coaching baseball. He is coaching Joshuas team and Jake will play for a rival team this fall.

I will update more later with pictures...Love you all
Tiffany for His Glory

2008-09-01T00:36:00.001-05:00

SiestaFiesta 2008 San Antonio from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

2008-09-01T00:34:00.001-05:00

Beth Moore's Esther, Web Promo from Greg, LifeWay on Vimeo.

Just a Thought

2008-08-27T17:16:00.000-05:00

There are no pictures today, I just wanted to write a little something to say how much I value each and everyone of you who might stop by to see what our life is like and to listen to the ramblings of my heart. I always always want to hear from you! I always desire to lift you before the throne of Grace! If there are every prayer requests please please list them under comments or email me! I love the Lord Jesus and it would be my privilege to serve you in praying for your needs. Also, please if you are embarrassed at all, leave your prayer anonymously...I can still pray for your situation. You know I am flesh and bone, but the Lord Jesus Christ is Almighty and All Knowing He knows who you are and desires greatly to bless you in your life. I would love to Believe God on your behalf.

My love forever
LOVE JESUS
Tiffany For His Glory

Siesta Fiesta

2008-08-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

I was blessed to recieve a DVD from Beth! A Cool photo of our reserved seating section

Ok so this is the first time I have let anyone into my private time with the Lord, I am head over heals in love with Christ Jesus. This is a picture that the photographer from the event took with out my knowing it.
Here is a Q&A session with Beth, Amanda, and Melissa

Melana, Veronica, me and Adrienne we had so much fun together

Ok now to get to it, I have had a moment to process a bit of the past week end and can write a bit about it. I am sure that all the blogging Siestas agree we needed to digest all the Lord did in us this weekend. For those friends and family chiming in to keep up on the antics of the Morse family, this isn't probably your post, but for those precious Siestas looking to see the weekend through my dimly lit eyes I hope your blessed. All of course are welcome to read on!

I have had an adventure this weekend, to go back to the beginning about a year or so ago Beth Moore founder of Living Proof Ministries looking for a way to connect to the women she ministers to began a blog through the insight of her daughter Amanda who typically does the upkeep and maintainance ( a full time assignment so we were told) since then women from around the country, even the world have been walking a bit of road with Beth and her girls through antics and Word and journaling and all the things blogs are used for. Well it brought such a wonderful outlet for Beth as her writing and Biblestudies and the loss of privacy through her calling to serve the Lord have left her with out a lot of availability for personal aspects of ministry. Weeeeeeeeeeeeell so began the birth of this community of bloggers that kind of interact if you will.

This past weekend was a get together of this community. We met up for one of her Living Proof Live conferences. The fun part is that basically the way we have known each other has been through blogging. I met up with one gal through the blog Michelle to whom i drove down to San Antonio with and another Adrienne that I roomed with. Oh my Did the Lord have me pegged or what each one of the women I spent my time with was just what the Dr ordered. We had a blast!! You see some of the pictures above that show a glimse of my experience. I will follow with a synopsis of the Word message that was spoken. But today is my anniversary and dinner is calling.

Three kids

2008-08-18T19:09:00.000-05:00

A mid summer nights fire!

2008-08-18T18:47:00.000-05:00

Where are my little ones you may ask as you read this? Well they came back and saw the fire and were completely unimpressed so they went back to the front yard to play basketball...hence the post with out pictures of them.

Ok so we had all this left over wood from our real live man vs wild experience while we still had Charlie...You know all the wood Randall nailed so elegantly to the bottom of the fence to try and keep the dog from digging out...It didn't work so therefore she has a new home, but here is the kindling for our fire! yay...it was nice we enjoyed a crackling fire and a cool night-ish we roasted hot dogs and laughed while Randall yet again in his element tended to his wild ways containing the fire to the pit...

I built the fire hmmmm it's probably great we have Randall to tend to my inability to build a safe fire!

Guess who's turning 7?

2008-08-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

Here's the birthday Boy! I thought you could see his personality so well through these pictures!

2008-08-18T18:39:00.000-05:00

Ok so these pictures aren't close ups, but you can get a gilmpse of the boys playing catch in the back yard

Four down three to go

2008-08-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Here are the four remaining kittens in no particular order, but they looked sooooo cute in these folded chairs I just had to share.

The Epic First Day Of School

2008-08-18T18:22:00.000-05:00

Can somebody clue me in as to why life is not like the movies?
Here is a glimpse into the annual pictures of the epic first day of school. You'll notice Jake isn't in them, He isn't going to the school that Jaden and josh are going, he's going to be home. WE are going to a co-op. I can't stand it we are so excited. I will post of him, but for his first day pocts you will have to wait a bit longer. Ok heres the little'uns

Boys will be Boys? I say Girls will be girls!!!

2008-08-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

Here is my little one my baby girl dressing up the kittens in her american girl clothes! I thought that kitten was the most darling thaaang I ever saw! By the way this kitten is the most docile sweety! I think my daughter has favored him from the beginning and they are bonded. Yes oh yes we are keeping this kitten.

Three in One

2008-08-11T12:38:00.001-05:00

Jaden in the poolJake in the pool

Joshua in the pool Randy posing for the camera
Sandra and Tiffany

Instead of three seperate parties or actually no parties at all because we tend to get too busy...we decided to have a combined pool party this year to celebrate The kids turning their next age...11,9,7 although this is actually Joshuas birthday month. It was a blast and we are glad we went this route.

Little League

2008-08-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

No we do not think Coke is a good hydrator as a matter of fact my kids don't really drink sodas but he really worked hard and this was his treat of choice. Just like his Daddy!

Can you believe so much has happened and I haven't blogged...

In June both our boys were asked to join teams as guests to go to the A Worldseries. Jake went as a back up pitcher and Josh as a back up catcher until the coach realized he knew how to play the position and then he played until he overheated. Mind you in central Texas it was only 100+ degrees and terrible humidity. I don't know why we think it is so cool to put that kind of pressure on 7 and 10 yearolds and every age inbetween but off we went and yes it was fun and exhausting and we din not take home any hardware(aka metals/trophies)

Jaden did her best to entertain herself and we certainly are proud of her...the biggest blast she had was the umbrella. She and a couple of girls played with that thing for hours.

Jake did fabulous...He was the only pitcher that pitched an entire game and we won that game! HMMMM. Got to love the proud parenting moment on that one. He hated being stuck in left field for the rest of the time, but we had a wonderful time explaining being a good sport and what it means to be a guest on somebody elses team. Sometimes he understood other times he pouted...AHH the life! Joshua was so fun to watch... He caught the majority of the time. All that equiptment on a little guy is hillarious. He whips the helmet off so he can see the ball and gets in ready position to get the guy out. But after three games in a row in extreme heat I niticed he was looking alittle spent...after the inning I planned on getting his cooled off and hydrated as the inning ended Josh slowly stood up and walked as slowly and uncertainly into the other teams dugout. It was so sad and funny and scary...One of the coaches ran over and picked him up and carried him equiptment and all back and I of course went to work on getting him back to his normal self. As the intensity and the strategy continue its always funny to me when the umpires call a time out and have to tie the boys shoes...its like ok for real they really are just little guys.

What an experience.

Do we love our kiitens?

2008-08-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

Ok we have kittens and have had for 7 1/2 weeks. We love them so much, but mommy is getting ready for them to go to a new home. But they are so fun. Most of the pictures are of them at about two-ish weeks old. Here they are...

Dancer?

2008-08-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

Ok so I have the privilage of taking dance as a grown up and I love it. No way I would post a picture of me in a costume, not yet anyway not until I've got a cool something to blog with it, but I thought I would give you a picture of my daughter and I in our ballet shoes. enjoy!

2008-04-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

I love new siesta's.....What I was doing 10 years ago: (1998)

1. Married 3 years

2. We were living in Kentucky..

3. I was a new stay at home mom

4. Randall was working for Toyota

5. We only had one car

5 things on my to-do list today:

1. Bible study

2. Target(errands)

3. organize prayer room/study

4. Watch a movie with my kids

5. finish planting the things I bought

5 snacks I enjoy:

1. coffee

2. chips and salsa

3. chocolate

4. whatever I'm in the mood for

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Give above the tithe

2. Pay off our house and car. Then invest the rest of the money to make it work for us so we can do mission trips whenever we want to.

3. buy a business

4. set up college funds .

5. Go to Israel.

5 bad habits:

1. pick at my nails
2. tv
3. too critical of myself.
4. easily distracted
5.coffee

5 places I've lived:
1. Reno, NV
2. San Diego/Fallbrook, CA
3. Lexington, KY
4 Philladelphia area(Sicklerville NJ)
5 Dallas, TX

5 jobs I've had
1. Wet Seal
2. Front Desk University Inn UNR.
3. Bank Teller CSR.
4. Dance Teacher
5. Stay at home Mommy!!! My Favorite by far. :)Okay, so I'm tagging: YOU!!! If you haven't done this yet, then consider yourself tagged!

Science Fair

2008-02-24T20:31:00.000-06:00

I thought I would share the pictures of Jakes two projects...the boys did the first one, after Jake won first place at the school fair, they suggested that mom might want to help with the presentation of the district display. Hehe, can you guess which one is the boys doing and which one is with Mom's help?

Kids in the sunrise and various dogisms(Charlie)

2008-02-07T15:02:00.000-06:00

Ok so this is not the kids in the sunrise, but I haven't posted this picture yet and I wanted to isn't he hot? I love this picture of my man!

Joshua and Jaden

Jaden and Jake, we tried to get one of all three but their ride(Randall) was leaving and it is so hard to smile under that kind of pressure.

Ok before you go reporting us to the SPCA Know that she was out there on a nice day and it started raining and she also has a $200 shelter right next to her that she refused to go into.

Again we aren't as rough as we look. Randall and Charlie are bonding AKA wrestling. Charlie's favorite part of the day.

Here is a cute dry picture of our dog, and yes she is a digger and she is very keen. She knows she isn't allowed to dig so she makes sure we are not watching her before she goes to town. Look at that face.

Shooting here go the guns.

2008-02-07T14:53:00.001-06:00

Here is randall and Papa shooting the "Big Dog"

Jaden and Jacob and Joshua are listening intently to their father as he explains safety and procedure.
Tiff shooting. Of course hitting the "bull-eye" every time

Papa examining the weapon

the weapon examining papa, well actually its the scope lookng for boogers

Joshua

Jake

Brian and his first experience.

Halloween Classic

2008-02-07T14:48:00.000-06:00

Jacob played "select" baseball, or tournament baseball in the fall and we had a blast watching this group of sandlot boys. Here are a few pictures at the end of one of the tournaments called the Halloween classic, they won the whole tournament. Jacob pitched a whole game and only gave up 3 runs, however we scored 13! yay Xtreme.

Morse funn-ness

2008-02-07T14:23:00.001-06:00

Joshua and Jaden loving on our newly adopted cat. Ok ok, she adopted up, she is a stray now in our loving care. Oh did I mention she came to us pregnant.

Stay tuned for the info regarding the birth of our kittens. We are so excited. she is due any day!!

Goofy picture of the kids at a pizza place here.

Randall and myself on the way to a Christmas party

Liz attacking Randall sho is digging for a winner. "Go randall!"

Joshua after a baseball game. We called him "pigpen" for a while after he was filthy.

Have you ever heard the saying "everything is bigger in Texas"? Well here is the perfect example if you look in the background you will see a blue net, an enormous blue baseball net. You can't even see the fullness of it as it didn't fully fit in the foyer.

Here is Randall dressed to impress as he heads out of the house to play catch with the boys.

Nore of Nicole's fun hair after I was gloriously allowed to brush her bautiful curls. Hehehehe.

At the annual Fort Worth parade of lights we had great seats to which we sat for three hours to reserve.

Nicole poses on stage for the 2007 recital.

Liz and Nicole are cracking up at something while out shooting!

Liz poses on stage while waiting for the recital to begin

More Random fun-ness in the Morse house

2008-02-07T13:53:00.000-06:00

Liz and Katie-2006

Kita onstage posing at teh dance recital last June. More pictures to follow, I just can't get the button to work

Joshua and Jaden are playing outside here on the frame to an adult swint that the dogs ate the cusion to, the wind blew the swing off and it cracked and so we only have the frame to which the kids play on and hang from.

Brian wresting with the kids, they are really intence ito it can't you tell.

Marcos giving Randall some love. Doesn't Randall look delighted?

Brian is using the cookie press with Joshua...Ok the rest of the story? I was baking with Joshua we were making spritz cookies and Brian saw the fun contraption we were using and being the inquizitive specimen that he is took it out of my hands and continued to bake the rest adding sprinkles(jimmies) and the like to make them more festive.

Josh and Brian eating ice cream.

Jaden gets her ears pierced

2008-02-07T13:40:00.000-06:00

Of course they post backwards. The pictures that is. Here is Jaden after her ears piercing.

Jaden again after, but different angle.

Jaden in the chair before her pircing. No real good story here, just that she had to get them redone as the original holes closed up.

Isn't my girl georgeous!!!

Our mc students at their best

2008-02-07T13:14:00.000-06:00

Has it not been forever since I posted a blog! I am soooooooo...sorry. I hope to keep up on it as I love to read everyone else's blogs and I know you may desire to see what we are up to.

So I was thinking, most of you may not know what I am talking about when I tell you we host college kids in our house.

They are Masters Commission students submitting to a 9 month discipleship program. they take classes through our local AG university and also engage in being trained in the Bible and engage in several ministry opportunities through out the year. Well since I am introducing them to you for the first time I am going to post several pictures of various students as their lives interact with ours over the last couple of years of our involvement.

Here we have Liz and Nicole our 2006/2007 students we went out shooting and they learned some gun safety and shot a few rounds.
These pictures are very random, Here we have Brian and Marcos, Brian is our 2007/2008 student, Marcos is one of our guys that hangs with us often. They came to hang out and Randall had punked out and is sleeping but the boys would have none of that, they went up and jumped right into bed with him.

Nicole has the most beautifel thick curly hair ever, but I begged her to let me brush it out and see what results we would get. Here are the results! I think it is sooooooooooo fun.

Back to the shooting experience with Liz and Nicole. Of course they are just posing and looking beautiful as usual.

Here is one of the guys from 2006/07 year who cam over to hang out with the girls. Liz had CHI'd his hair. So much fun.

Our Brian who currently lives with us, he had his wisdom teeth out and had this funky machine attatched to his face for encouraging a quicker healing.

Brian playing guitar hero...Joshua in the background.

Here we have a back shot of the boys playing guitar hero, Jake is sitting and watching for the time being...he can jam with the best of them do not be fooled.

Brian decided to shave his head! Isn't it awesome. We called him snowflake for a few weeks it was hilarious.

BEAUTIFUL! Liz and Nicole.

Liz and Nicole actually shooting.

Ok so there you have it. That is one complete blog.

I know you will read this one last of the newly posted, but it is the first one I am posting.

Baseball Screens and Napoleon

2007-05-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

The Kids are playing in the pool that we got for the dogs to cool off in. Please do not miss the screen the dogs have ripped out and the Napoleon sticker on the window. I know I know your wondering what a mess we really are! Where are the dogs? scroll down to see tham hiding near the fence.

Randall playing catch with Jake.

Out for Mexican food with Randalls folks.

Joshua running the bases.

Off goes the helmet to cover home plate.

Jake in between catches with Dad!

Jaden on dance picture day.

Jaden in the sun.

Here are the dogs as far away from the kids as they can be. We got a new pool for the kids and they haven't realized that in our heat it is going to be their favorite attraction! Notice they are in the one patch of shade we have as of yet. No worries!

Charlie sitting in the new chair that Randalls parents gave the kids.

Catchers gear bigger than he is.

As you can see it has been a full week and this is not the whole thing. I can't wait for summer, no school and we can hang out with the kids!!! Well off for now, just wanted to update. I want to write more but it all seems silly when I start to put it to words.

A creative first post...Not!

2007-05-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

I am trying to figure the pictures out so the captions do not match please excuse today! We will go for the gold next time!

Shari and my self at a taping at Life Today. They were interviewing Beth Moore

This is my beloved Charlie. She is an Old English Sheepdog. 5 months old.

Here is Nick otherwise we call him Dave because he looks like a former dog we called Dave. He is 3 months old

Jaden is of course posing for the camera. PRECIOUS!!

Hello Randall! UH!!

Joshua is smiling very big for the camera.

Jake, Josh and the dogs.

Randall coaching Jake as he comes up to bat.

Madness anyone? Stick around because it is bound to appear with this bunch!!!
Those who know my family well know my mother is forever creating her "movie" code for her life. I think we share the memory making thing in common, however my life seems more akin to a sitcom than any other genre. I hope I can entertain you a bit over the entries maybe you'll be blessed somewhere in the midst for I love my God. He alone is life to me, the air I breath! Ok on with the show.