New Beginnings

This is a time of new beginnings for our family. I won't go into details about our past year, for one thing it would take to long, but I will just say I'm thankful for restoration. There are many times in this path of life that we may feel the need to surrender and give up the fight, but yet God's mighty hand sustains us and allows us the ability and courage to press on. Last Saturday I attended the Women of Faith in KC. My whole life changed in those two days. I was able to search my heart and capture the true essence of what God needed me to do in order to have a relationship with him and my family. His faithfulness is true and his love for us is so deep and genuine, nothing can ever take it's place. May each of you know the peace that my heart feels daily. The Lord showed me that I needed a heart transplant, once that took effect, amazing things began happening in my family. I will rejoice for he has made me glad!!

Patterns of Life

I recently had a conversation with my mother about what day the Lord will come is going to be. There are many times that I just stop and ponder this through out the year and wonder if I'm ready. I know how exciting it would be to be raptured and my heart wants that more than anything. At the same time, I get a little sad thinking about how much I will miss being gone from here. I think it's because I have this vision of being in heaven and not knowing what it will be like. On Earth we each have some kind of security or safety net that we cling to, it helps us get through difficult times, joys, weaknesses, and strongholds. I know that God is who I trust and go to first and foremost, but my family has been my security or safety net. I desire to have that relationship with God that would be willing to sacrifice everything I have, including my family for him. I know that is what Abraham was willing to do with Isaac. I question - am I that faithful to God that I could lay my children and my husband upon the altar and say here Lord, do with them what you will.

I want their lives to be a reflection of his love, grace, and mercies. I desire that each of my children develop a relationship with God that will sustain them and grow with them throughout their lives. If the Lord does choose to come, think of all the suffering they will not have to go through because they each belong to him. That is worth the sacrifice.....

I love this time of year so much. I think about what I'm thankful for and today it's my husband. He is such a kind and generous man and I am so proud of him. For several years now he has tried to quit smoking and each year passed with no results. Well, 4 days ago he decided he wanted to change that. He has been smoke free for almost 5 days. I'm so thankful as I know so is our family.

Our past experience we both would tend to get a little grouchy with each other and when it would come to that point he would just stop and say this isn't worth it. Well, I decided that I wanted it to be worth it, so I've been trying very hard to be positive and encouraging to him.

He told me the other day that he was so much happier and that it makes is so much easier to want to quit because I'm supporting him. That makes me happy and I know that it makes him happy.

I love him and can't wait to see what our future will hold, now that we will have a longer one together.

Faith

Oh that I could have the faith of my children. I often read the blogs that my girls share and wonder, why can't I write like that. I love the strength and the faithfulness that they often share. I love to read how much of a blessing their families are to them. I also am amazed at how they are able to share their joys and struggles with others and how people pray for them on a daily basis.

I have wonderful beautiful children and three of them are married to wonderful, beautiful people. We pray for the best for our children and I believe that God truly blessed my husband and I with very special ones. They would do anything for us. They give to the point that they can give no more and still, if they have it they give it. They love hard and with the fullest extent that God could possibly give them.

They soak up every joy in life and share them with others. They make me smile each moment I think about them. I have loved them, prayed for them, wept with them and held them. THANK YOU LORD, for these amazing children.

Our youngest son Joshua became ill a couple of weeks ago. Everyday he was called from his siblings who checked on how he was doing. It was the first time he had ever been in a hospital. I remember when they were all younger, how they each had a special place in our lives and in each others. They have each other's backs and they are the best of friends. Not many families have a special place like ours. Being a "Pollock" means something to them. We've worked hard to get where we are and they don't let anything stand between them. Listening to them and how concerned they were for their little brother, brought tears to my eyes. I could feel the love they have for him and for each other. What an amazing beautiful thing.

Proverbs 18:4 says, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is one who sticks closer than a brother." In our case, my children are fortunate to not only be brothers and sisters but friends. What treasures we have in our children and their friendships.

Me: "Do you remember when you were little how I always told you I love you? I love you bigger than all the stars in the sky." Josh: "Yep, I love you more than all the grains of sand in the ocean."

Wow What A Summer

I realized tonight that I haven't posted anything about my summer and here school is about to begin. Isn't it funny how as we get older life zooms by us and then we look back and think, where did the time go? I spent a wonderful summer spending lots of time with my family, especially spoiling some precious grandbabies. We enjoyed weekends of play time and swimming in the back yard. What special memories.

Once again it's that time of year for new beginnings. We have many new memories to make this school year and I'm so excited. I love the first day of school, seeing my new students and learning what each one is like the first week. They are always so eager to find out what their teacher is like and whether or not they will like him/her.

Being a teacher is a special thing, I am so privileged to have these children in my lives. We spend so much time molding them and shaping them into who they will become. It's so amazing to see their strengths and talents and their discoveries of learning to do things they didn't know they could do. What a special place to be, at the beginning of middle school, where decisions they make will be what shapes their futures and who they will become someday. I pray that the influence I will bring to them, will not only be the knowledge of study, but also an example of who I am in christ. May they see the faith I have shine through me, even if it has to be silent at times.

Summer Vacations

I remember summer vacations growing up as being the most rewarding experiences of my life. For two weeks out of the summer, my family along with my grandparents, would spend time on vacation. My brother and I would argue about who was going to ride with grandpa and grandma and who had to ride with mom and dad. We eventually would have to take turns, which was fine because we didn't have to ride with each other.

My favorite vacation with my family would be going to South Carolina and visiting the Magnolia Garden's and the beautiful mansions in the south. It was an unforgettable time.

My favorite vacation since this time, would be going to Hawaii with my husband. It was an amazing experience and one that I would do again in a heart beat. I'm so thankful that we were able to have this special experience together and that we made many memories that will be forever cherished.

Thanks grandpa, for beginning the traditions of vacations! We will definitely enjoy the ride, however will miss the moments that we could have spent them with you!!

Testing Our Faith

Do you ever have times in your life that you feel the Lord constantly testing you and your faith? I believe that God can do anything. Sometimes life gets rough and we know that the Lord can see us through, yet we hold back a little, just not quite sure what the outcome will be. It is sometimes hard to trust completely and give all of it to the Lord.

For my husband and I, it seems that financially we are constantly being tested. He chose to take a job where he could be at home with his family more, which is exactly where we believe God wants him. Because of this our financial situation has changed tremendously. We are having to squeeze our budget so to speak, at a time in our lives where we would like to be able to do more things and have a little more. Every time we feel that we are ahead, we end up one step behind again. We are possibly going to have to get a new car, which I would love to do, but financially it just really isn't a good time. We ended up paying a large sum of taxes and had to extend our car loan. I really do believe that God will take care of us, just is a little difficult waiting to see the outcome.

He knows the plans he has for us, plans to give us hope and a future.