I need to do more

Do you ever feel a lack of self worth? Do you ever feel that you need to be doing more? These questions have been bothering me for days now. I'm a stay at home mom as I have an 11 month old and there was never any doubt that I would always stay home with our children. I stayed home with our 12 year old and 10 year old until they started school. God blessed me with a job that I could do out of my home at that time. It was a great job and allowed me to be home with both kids until Kyle started school. After that I subbed and volunteered at their school almost every day and then became a parapro during Kyle's 3rd grade year and Katie's last year at the Elementary School. What more could any mom ask for? God knew where my heart was and knew how much I loved being with my kids. The following year God blessed us with Ella and once again I was able to stay home with her. I love being at home and having that special time with my children. I love being able to pick up Kyle from school and Katie from cheerleading. I love being able to go to school functions. I love having the house clean and supper cooked when Tim gets home from work (well not every day). All of this is so important to me. I wouldn't want it any other way, but I feel like I need to do more. I feel like I need to be bringing in an income to help with all of the expenses. I feel as if I'm not doing my part. Am I a horrible person for feeling this way as God has so blessed me with the ability to stay home. I just feel so guilty when I need to buy clothes or when I grab lunch out. Those of you who stay home do you ever feel this way? Let me just say Tim doesn't make me feel this way, he is wonderful! He encourages me to do things for myself and wants me to stay home. What a great husband God has blessed me with!!

As I was praying this morning I asked God to give me something that I could do that wouldn't take much time away from my kids, but that would give me a little extra money and help me feel like I was doing my part. Well almost immediately a friend of mine called wanting me to come to a Mary Kaye meeting to learn about selling Mary Kaye. She just started about two months ago and loves it. Well I love Mary Kaye products, but I hate parties. She said she did to and has never done one. Well that sounded great to me. If I could sell the products without doing parties, how awesome would that be.

Dont get me wrong in all of this because I know what I do is important to GOD. I know I'm doing what God wants me to do, but is it so bad to want to do more. Is it so bad to want to earn my own money and maybe get to spend time with others. I just want to please my Heavenly Father above all. I love you girls and knew that I could come to you for words of wisdom and encouragement.

To Catch You Up

Hi Friends!

I thought while Ella was taking a nap I would try to catch everyone up on what went on this summer at the Fleming household (if anyone cares). First of all, I guess everyone knows by now we moved. That is why I have not been able to blog for so long. We sold our house in the country and moved to the city. (Sounds like Green Acres, but just the opposite.) Tim was so tired of being so far out and the gas was killing us. I didn't think I would ever enjoy being back in the city especially not in a condo, but let me just say "I love it"!! I am eating my words and telling Tim how right he was every day. The kids are the happiest they have been in a long time. I really enjoy having Nancy so close and being so close to "everything" walmart, kroger, walmart, zaxby's, walmart, the mall, walmart.....I just love Walmart... I also love my condo. We bought a new one so we were able to take walls down and pick out everything. It was a lot of fun and we got it just like we want it. So I want to thank all of you for praying for me during that difficult time of having to sell my dream home. You knew that God was in control and He would not let me down. Thank you girls and thank you Lord!!

In June, Tim and I and the kids went to Naples, Florida for a week. We had the best time. The place we stay is called the LaPlaya (look it up). It is wonderful! The rooms are great...the view is awesome...and they cater to your every need. They have four pools and a hot tub. It's a great place to take your family. The only downfall is the drive. It is about a 10 hour drive. That was pretty hard with a baby, but it is worth it!!!

Also, in July, Tim and I and Ella went to St. Simons. Our favorite place to vacation!!! Tim had a conference there so Ella and I tagged along. Katie had cheerleading camp that same week so we didn't take Kyle either to be fair. It was very relaxing for me and Ella. This place also had several pools and a kiddie pool. Ella had just learned to walk so she had so much fun in the kiddie pool. She could stand up in her float and walk around. It was the cutest thing. She loves the water, but is not really crazy about the beach. I don't think the sand tasted too good!!!!

Finally the last vacation to Pigeon Forge with the family only Katie got to go. We were all supposed to go, but Tim could not get off from work and we really didn't need to spend the money. Dewey, Jo, Lisa, and Emma decided to go on and go so we decided to let Katie go for Emma. Kyle was okay with this after a few bribes. If you just mention buying baseball cards thats all it takes. He got to go last year so he was really fine staying home with us. Tim took one day off and we spent it with Kyle doing whatever he wanted to do.

Okay, I'm gonna try to wrap this up because I know I am boring you to death. Even though we had a great summer, it was still very hard knowing that this would be the last summer Dewey would be a pastor. It's all Tim has ever known and what I have been used to for 15 years. But I believe change is good and God is with us every step of the way. I'm excited to see what is in store for Dewey in his new endeavor and just the same for our church.

Now it is back to school time and back to reality. Katie started cheerleading practice with their first game next Saturday and their first competition September 20th at Northwest High School. If anyone would like to go please let me know. Kyle starts football practice next week. Tim is so excited that he gets to be the coach again this year, just kiddin....! Ella and I are enjoying our days at home so please call, email or come by anytime. We would love the company. I love you guys and I am so excited to be blogging again.

I'M BACK!!!!! YEA!!!

Hey friends! I'm back!! I can't believe it is working again. Cyndi you are awesome!!! I love you!!! I just want to start off by saying I have missed talking with you guys so much. I love this way of communicating with all of you. Sometimes it is so much easier to sit down and type than pick up the phone, especially when you want to call everybody!!!

How are all of you?? I hope doing great. I hope to get on each of your blogs and find out what is going on tonight or tomorrow. I guess you can imagine how crazy my life is right now. I know you all feel the same way. With school starting back, cheerleading going full force, football sign-ups, and the most significant right now, Ella and everything going on with her.

Let me just say she is doing great! She is walking everywhere and into everything. I can't take my eyes off of her for one minute!! Not only am I watching to see what she is getting into next, but since Sunday's seizure I have watched her every move. And that brings me to what happened Sunday. I have beat myself up about it ever since because I really feel like it was all my fault. Tim and I had decided that it was probably okay to miss a morning dose here and there. She is so much happier when we wait and give it to her at night. But we found out the hard way that we cannot do this. She absolutely has to have her morning dose and evening dose. I feel terrible, but I have learned my lesson and thank the Lord she is okay.

We did go see the neurologist on Tuesday and he said she looked great and seemed to be progressing just like a normal one year old. He was very reassuring and gave me peace of mind, which I really needed after the Sunday episode. He does not want to raise her dosage yet, even though she is older. He just wants me to be consistent and see if we can keep her on this dose a little longer. Thank you for all of your prayers, calls, and words of encouragement. Please continue to pray that she outgrows this real soon without any complications.

Once again I am so glad I get to blog with ya'll again and I promise to update all my pictures real soon. Most of you know where I am now, so please come visit anytime. I love all of you very much.

Angela

You Bless Me!

Hi Friends! Have I told you how Wonderful you are? Have I told you how much you bless me? You are all so sweet the way you genuinly care about me and my family. Thank you for your continued prayers and friendship during these strange and trying times in the Fleming Family. I know I have told you all this before, but I really feel like it needs to be said again. Thank you for loving and supporting Dewey and Jo during these past couple of years and giving them the strength to carry on. Thank you for loving and praying for Lisa during her difficult time as well without any judgement or ridicule. And thank you for being there for us on so many occasions with your kindness and open arms as we struggled with Ella's seizures. Even though we kept our distance from you, you reached out to us as a friend and Body of Christ should do. You all have taught me so much.

I have truly felt your prayers this week as I came a little closer to being at peace about selling my house. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. I can't wait to see His will for our life. My devotion this morning was about God's will and it said that alot of times we just ask God's will to be done in our lives, but it is not that simple! We also need to ask God for spiritual wisdom and understanding. God's wisdom and understanding gives us the ability to discern each step. So as I ask God for His will and where we are supposed to live, I pray He fills me with the spiritual wisdom and understanding that I need. Does this make any sense? Does it sound strange since we are just moving to another house? I feel God has a purpose and plan for every move we make. This move is about becoming debt free (eventually) and about Tim not having to work extra jobs to make ends meet. I feel this move will lift a heavy burden off Tim, which will relieve some stress off the rest of the family. I am so excited and anxious to see what "door" God opens for us. But wherever it is, it will be full of "His love" and forever open to each of "you".

Also, I can't close without saying how blessed I was Sunday morning! If you haven't read Tammy's email, please ask me for it because she put it beautifully!!!! What an awesome church we have!!
Love to you all,
Angela

HELP

Well girls, you are not going to believe this!! Our realtor called tonight and we have an offer on our house. It was worth Tim staying up till 12:30 a.m. Saturday night cleaning. (which, by the way, I thought was good for him anyway because it showed him a little bit of what I do every day..) I don't really know what to say or how to feel. I have such mixed emotions. I know it is the right thing for us to do right now, but it is still very hard for me. I looooove my house, my dream house! I really thought we would be here a long time. But we have always felt that the Lord wanted me to be home with our children, so therefore, I didn't go back to work this year and this has been too much of a financial burden for my husband to carry alone. I know God has a reason for everything. I am just going to trust in Him!

So girls, what I need you to pray for first and foremost is a place to live by June 9th and that everything goes smoothly with the sell of our house. Secondly, that my children will adjust to the move and will feel safe and at home wherever we go. And thirdly, for me, that I will have a peace about this and a positive attitude so that I won't put anymore stress on my husband. He is very excited and very relieved to get out from under this pressure. When I asked him how he felt about it, he said he felt like a burden was lifted off his shoulders. He can now quit his second job and spend more time with his family. Which is the most important thing to him!!!!

You girls have told me before to come to you with my burdens and you would gladly lift them up in prayer so here I am asking again for you to come to my rescue. It feels so good to know ya'll are there. I'm so lucky to have such a great bunch of friends that I can come to with my happy times, sad times and hard times. I love ya'll "hireds" (I still don't think I know what that means), but if ya'll are "hireds" then I want to be one too. I'm laughing out loud when I write this because I don't know if it makes any sense. I'm tired, nervous, anxious, happy, sad, sick to my stomach, but full of HIS Grace!!!!!!! So I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me!!!!!!
Love ya'll
Angela

An Ode to my Friends!

This weekend with my friends could not have been funner
We laughed and we cried and got to know each other.

Some of us went to Gatlinburg to take a quick look
While others stayed at the cabin to scrapbook.

Nine of us decided we wanted to get "tats"
And my husband suggested Harley Davidson hats.

As we all came together to sit down for dinner
Brandi, Mary Beth, and Tiffany cooked us a winner.

Later that night we decided to play games
We had some sore loosers, but I won't name names.

As the weekend came to a close we gathered for prayer and goodbye
Tammy prayed for our church without a dry eye.

Before we left we scrunched together for one last photo shot
All 19 of us and 3 little tots.

On the way home I thanked God for my friends
Each one unique, but what a great blend!

Now to my friends, what can I say
Just know you are in my heart each and every day.

I pray God fills your home full of His love
And keeps His hand on you from Heaven above.

As I close this poem because I'm so tired
I just want to say, I'm so glad to be a "hired".

I love you girls and thank you for accepting me and making me feel a part of you.
Angela

My Best Friend

It's Thursday morning and I am leaving tomorrow for a weekend trip with 18 women from my church. I am so excited about getting away for a couple of days and spending time getting to know these wonderful ladies. God has blessed me with a group of strong christian friends who have encouraged me, inspired me, loved me, and prayed for me through some really tough times. Thank you ladies once again from the bottom to the top of my heart.

Now I say all of that to follow with this. Even though I can't wait to go and bond with my friends in Christ, I will miss my husband, my Best Friend, very much. He is the best husband and Dad anyone could ask for. He loves me unconditionally and puts up with my many imperfections. He encourages me and holds me together when I feel I am falling apart. He provides for me (working 2 jobs) just so I can stay home, but still manages to find time to be there for us, whether it be playing games, coaching ball, attending cheerleading competitions, or watching Ella at night to give me a break and much needed rest.

Wow, what an amazing man GOD has blessed me with and sometimes I feel I take that for granted. This is really the whole purpose of this message, to let my husband know how much he is loved and appreciated for all he does. I thank GOD for you every day and will miss you these next couple of days! I promise to take great care of our precious little Ella Grace.

Also, to my other two amazing children, I love you very much and am proud of both of you for what wonderful christian people you have become. I will miss you guys too and hope you have a great weekend with Dad and Nana. I know this sounds like I am going away for a long time when I am actually only going for three days, but I just wanted you guys to know how much you mean to me and how much you will be thought of while I am gone.

With All my Love,
Angela