Hello Blog World....It has been a month!!

It has been a crazy crazy month with trying to get back into the routine of school, work, and sports. It has definitely been a roller coaster ride to say the least. Trenton started 5th grade, and Sarah started 2nd. Trenton has lots and lots of work to do. It is really a busy year for him, and he is trying to make straight A's. I am so proud of both of them, and could NOT ask for better kids. We have our moments, but God has truly truly blessed us.

As I look at Trenton, I see a young man evolving. A young man that has to remind his mother that HE can DO stuff on his own, and he has is on way of doing stuff. OOOPPSS!!! I am learning slowly to let him find out things on his own. (Nothing major, just little things that I try to control). God has us on a unique journey that I am not at liberty to share, but it is a faith walk. I am learning to surrender Trenton and Sarah to him. I have been led to read the book "The Power of a Praying Parent", and it has been pivitol in my life. God has taught me that I don't have to handle everything concerning my kids, but he is the great "I AM" and he can intervene in any situation. I am trusting that when Trenton has a hard time completing his assignments on a particular day that the Lord will help him complete them. We believe the Lord for his miraculous work, and we are seeing his hand in all of our life situations.

God has really been at work, and he has given me confirmation after confirmation. I know the enemy would want nothing more than to distract me. I was pondering on something the other day, and I felt this rise in my Spirit. FEAR is the mangifying glass of a little speckle of doubt. God is greater than anything, and if he speaks....It is done and completed. Why do I still have trouble accepting what God promises? I dont' doubt him or his word, but I think I wrestle with the whole idea of him doing something for me. I mean, He gave the ultimate gift of his son. I am learning to accept his gifts.

There have been many times lately where Lloyd and I have been in complete awe of his mercy, kindness, and favor. I have been in prayer, and saw a vision of a present being handed in my direction. It was the most beautifully wrapped present. The Lord spoke to me and said "Are you going to accept my gift". He was referring to a situation that he has been leading us to. All I know, is he is doing the driving. I am not(although, I do) to try to figure out how he is going to do it, he just is. I find myself, trying to rationalize his ways, and how I think he is going to work it out. I have to remind myself....HE IS GOD!!!! and all he has to do is speak....Isn't that what he did with the world?...HE spoke it into existence. So I am learning not to put God on a human level, and the things he does are things that I won't be able to fathom. Okay, so I am learning to just say....You said, YOu will do it...and leave it at that. I can no longer step into the world of figuring it out and wonder how and when. LOL...So I am learning, Lord, I am learning. I have taken great strides in trusting him. I use to worry, fret, and try to do it all on my own. I tried to figure out a way. When the "I want to figure this out" tries to enter my mind, I discount it, and just hand it over to the Lord....It is such a daily and sometimes hourly thing. I don't want control over my life...I want him to have it. I just have to continually submit my will to the LORD, and that is not always an easy task..

It will drive you to your knees...

The "it" I am implying is MOTHERHOOD. As I held my 10 year old son and 7 year old daughter last night after a rough day, it humbles me...that God would entrust me to be their mother. It was easier when they were infants. Now with my 10 year old, I am dealing with the outside influences of others. It is more of a conflict at times with him now that he is older. He can spend a whole day at daycare or school, and come home with a personality of someone else. We spent a long time last night praying with him and reading with him the word of God. It was a wake up call to us as parents that we cannot even slumber for a minute, but we must be vigilant at all times and aware of all the schemes of the enemy. He would want nothing more than to destroy the plan of God, and the promises he has for my children. I, as a parent, will NOT back down. I will stand in the strength of the Holy Spirit, and declare his schemes DEAD. My children will be the Lord's, and they will carry out his purposes. The enemy just woke a sleeping giant, and that is a MOTHER with a purpose. The Lord has given Lloyd and I these children, and if we have to lay over them every moment of every day to cover them in prayer, we will!! OUR God will protect them, and lead them into what he has for them. I proclaim..LOVE, STRENGTH, BLESSING, PROTECTION, AND PURPOSE over their lives!!! They were entrusted unto us as parents, and we GIVE them right back to the LORD!!

Many adopted children!!!

Wow, has our life changed over the last year...Lloyd and I have just became the College and Young Adult ministers at our church. It is such a priviledge and honor to be in the service for the Lord. It has finally manifested itself...finally after 10 years of preparation, prayer, and growing up!!! I am humbled at God's majesty, grace, and love. His patience with me is hard to fathom. If I were my heavenly Father, I would have grown tired....lol.
I look at the task at hand to lead this great bunch of Young Adults, and it can be overwhelming. It would be easy to just march in there, teach a little, then leave. That would accomplish nothing. My prayer to the Lord, is to set this generation ablaze for him. I don't want them to be the statistic, but the overcomers of this generation. I hope that I will not fail as a leader, but will inspire them. I know that it can only be done when I put my hand in the Lord's, and I walk with him. It is exciting and then it is overwhelming at the same time. God is faithful and what we put in we will get out. The same applies to life. If we are faithful in the little things, God will trust and add to us, but who much is given, much is required. My goal is not numbers, but depth. I know as God begins to move, it will be an obvious thing to grow, but it will be by him and in his time.
It isn't about a title or status, but is about the souls involved. It isn't a name to carry, but a burden to bear. It is made up of seasons and loaded with adventure, but most of all it is about the one who sent us...Our Lord Jesus Christ. May my motives be pure and acceptable before him, as I accept the assignment......as minister/pastor/mentor/friend.....X-pansion 4:10...here we come...with the Lord by our side..

OH my it has been awhile..but God has been at work.

I have been a bad blogger since summer began. Life has been busy busy busy. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Trenton has been to 3 camps thus far. He has been to baseball camp, basketball camp, and then Youth camp. Sarah decided she is waiting until next year to do the camp thing. I sit and look at where I was a year ago, and count every one of my blessings. A year ago this weekend I was newly pregnant with our sweet boy we lost. I could not lift my head, and if I did I was throwing up. It was such a miserable feeling to not be well. I remember feeling so helpless.

I have taken this summer and decided to create an atomosphere of joy. I have decided to do things and enjoy life with the children we do have. We have enjoyed $1.00 movie Tuesdays. It is wonderful to look on each side of me and marvel at how blessed I truly am. I can get a good look when they are all into a movie. I am so blessed beyond measure, and I will not live entrapped thinking about what I don't have. I will rejoice and be thankful for what I do.

I did host a sleepover for Sarah with all of her softball team. It was a challenge, but well worth the memories. I want my children to remember the things I did for them, not for merit, but that I did love them and would sacrifice. I want them to know that we have an open door policy, and that it is a house of love and acceptance.

We have had a little bit of sibling rivalry this summer, and I have been prayerful about how to handle this. Lloyd and I have decided to teach our children to be servants. They are siblings that should love one another and care about each others interests. I have decided to give them scripture to look up each time they are ugly to one another that correlates with the incident. There is tension in the air at times around the Gibson Household. We had an incident earlier where Sarah called Trenton a name, and in return Trenton called her a name. They spent 10 min in the corner, and I found Proverbs 15:1....A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. They read it to one another, and then apologized. Trenton then said, It still hurts that she called me that...we then looked up in Matthew, where if we want forgiveness, we must forgive others. I had him quote it, and tell her he forgives her. It isn't easy, but we knew something needs to be done. The word of God cannot be refuted, and it is sharper than any two edged sword. The enemy would want nothing more than to destroy our unity. Well, he cannot stand against the truth of the word. No longer being passive Christians, but warriors against discord. We are no longer going to be family easily defeated, but one that will stand!!!!

Where have I been, you ask???

I have been in complete summertime bliss...I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I guess I celebrate this summer a little more because I spent 3/4 of last summer in the bed. A nauseated, very sick mess. I was just finding out I was pregnant this time last year, and then the downturn began.

I have really learned to take hold of what is in front of me, cherish it and celebrate it.

I wanted to be able to create Joy and memories this summer that would overshadow the sadness of last year. I have made it a point to not take for granted what I do have....God is perfect and Holy, and even though I had a sea in front of me....God has made a way...I may have scars, but the wound is closed and healing.