Camping 101

What a great experience we just had at the Lodges at Eagle's Nest in Banner Elk. (http://www.eaglesnestbe.com/ ) I would say it was a camping experience mixed with an American Indian wanna be atmosphere. We started the weekend with a mean game of beach volleyball (yes, I did say beach and we were in the Mtns. close to 4000 ft.) against our dear friends the William's family. Next after beating the William's family we moved on to bigger and much rougher terrain. We spent over an hour of off road 4 wheelin'. This was so much fun but not so good on the back. Once we arrived at what seemed to be @ 5000 ft. we stood, then sat, then just rested as we watched the clouds move across the Mtns. What a sight. BUT, it was no where near the end of this fab day. We made our way back to the TEPEE Village (http://www.tipi.com/) to get ready for our Full Moon Cruise. How much fun was that! Over 40 people cruised to the top ridge where there was a roaring fire pit, ribs baking and BYOB and side dish... all of which was accompanied by the Lord's beautiful Full Moon! To conclude the night, the kids and I jumped into the hot tub (which resembled cascading water falls into a pond) and talked .... that is such a rare thing among adolescents, but not at Eagle's Nest! What a night!
The following day was just as great, except for the fact the Hammond family was defeated 2-1 in a rematch by the fierce and dedicated William's family. Kenny and I rode horses across the beautiful rolling Mtns. and fab. trails, the kids were engaged in archery and shot gun practice. (I think Colton and Miles spent at least 4 hrs. practicing target shooting throughout the weekend) and the meals were fresh and always ready for a 'smore. So, late Sun. afternoon we knew it was time to go. All good things must come to an end. No wait, I hate that saying ....... All good things can wait for another day! That is true at Eagle's Nest,but, with God's presence, you never have to wait. He is always here and available today!
OK, so my new day is actually tomorrow. I leave in the morning, with close to 200 Middle School kids for Windy Gap. My bags are packed, my cool-o-meter is in check and I believe, we are going to have the times of our lives .... spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and ahhhh yes, mentally. I need your prayers, as leaving my farm and Kenny/Colton will be tough for 3 days, but hey, they can muck a stall like no one else! It should be good for their bonding, don't you think?! But seriously, I do need prayer, as there has been a lot of adjustment with working, scheduling, sports, personal play time, family, farm and my health.

So, it is off to "camp" yet again, I pray you find God in everything you do this week! I will look for His presence and little bits of fun up in them hills, you do the same OK!
Love to you all; get a lot of God this week, He is really COOL and Oh soooo Powerful! He wanted me to remind you of that!
Blessings friends,
Denise

Writing to make it stick!

When I catch my boys doing something that they clearly know not to do, I have them write. Mostly for repetition purposes, but also, as a punishment. This is to serve as a reminder to follow the rules or pay the consequences. So, I tell you this because Colton is supposed to ask before logging on to our computers, well, ooops, he "forgot" and was playing a game on the web. As a mom, who takes her job seriously, I felt it was important to remind him in a way that he would not "forget" in the future. So Colton had to write (30 times), "I will ask before logging on to the computer". I have this writing in front of me now as I write in this blog, so that, I may be reminded to ask God what He would have me do in the circumstances that I face each day. I might even write God a note saying, "I will ask you Lord, what you would have me do today, before I begin my day". I might write that 40 times just to be reminded.
So what about you? What do you need to be reminded of for the days ahead? Go to the Father and ask for His leadership on that one!
Blessings to all!
Denise

Back to school

This is a bitter sweet time of the year! My boys, as well as many other of extended "kids" are starting school for the 08-08 year this week. It is exciting yet a bit scary, a bit mysterious yet energizing. I see this beginning very similar to many who claim Christ for the first time. God is mysterious yet consistant and never changes, He is everywhere yet extremely personal. We serve and follow an awesome Savior!
I pray in advance for all of our kids and their teachers. May the Lord bless and grow each and every one of these professionals and students. That prayer includes me as well. I have accepted a position at Charlotte Christian MS teaching and designing a new curriculum. The current PE program is reshaping itself and will become "The Health Promotions Dept." if I have anything to say about it. Please pray with me as I take this leap of faith in my new adventures!
Blessings and here's to good health!
Denise

This summer has been quite an experience. The Lord has taken our family on quite a few adventures this summer and I'd like to share what I have witnessed.
First, God showed me what a few days without communication feels like. While getting really comfortable in my early summer routine, (which meant little study time and a prayer style that mimics an ADD woman on stimulants) I found myself in a rut. My rut was a bit like the following..... Wake up whenever, watch a bit of TV, ride, clean and feed horses, farm clean up, fun at the pool with the kids, traveling, working out as little as possible, party party party and then sleep and do it all again next week. This routine is making me tired! In that realization, it hit me; where is God in all of this summer schedule? He is my Energy source and my sustainer, no wonder I am so tired! All play and no God time makes Denise a very worn out chick! Well, thankfully, He never left me, I just forgot to ask Him how He wanted me to live out summer fun. I see our God as a huge, buff, creative, Personal Trainer.... filled with Energy,wisdom, experience, knowledge and adventure. Who wouldn't want to hang out with that?
So here I sit on Sat. night contemplating my final weeks of summer and I want more from my close and loving, fun-filled creator.
What are those plans You have for me Lord? You say they are to prosper me and to give me a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11) In the Psalms, often I read about us making plans and You determining our steps- our path. We are to commit our plans to You and trust that they will succeed. So, I guess once we commit to You then we must trust in Your deliverance. That my friends is FAITH! Our faith is based on being sure of what we hope for and certain for what we do not see (Heb.11:1). We may not know the future but it is in His hands and divine plan ... these are quite powerful and awesome promises Lord! hummmm/ pause/ think .... in summary I see it like this: Future Plans, Commitment, Trust, Confident Expectation of Deliverance, Faith and Hope............. so, what shall I hope for next? School to start maybe????
Have a great week everyone and I pray you too have a great rest of the summer with our God!
Blessings, Denise

star so bright

Just a quick note to remind you to look up!
While Kenny and I were shaving our donkey last night, it occurred to me that I rarely look up when I am busy or preoccupied with a project. We were so enthralled with this task that we almost missed the amazing picture above our heads. The sky was splattered with glistening stars and a bright moon. It wasn't until Hannah (my donkey) raised her sweet head that I too gazed above and sat back in awe. God's amazing creations are always present and always jaw dropping. When busy, know that it is He that will direct the plans that we so often make. May I suggest that you sit quietly over this summer and soak in the artistic beauty and love of Christ.
Blessings,
Denise

All the world loves a stage!
I am speaking tonight at Providence High School and have been asking the Lord to open more doors for speaking and teaching. Please keep this in your prayers as well, as this is such a passion of mine!
As I prepared for tonight's speaking engagement, I was struck with how difficult this message would be without expressing my faith. The message is about Standing Up to today's cultural messages. After leaving my Bible study group of Bible thumpin' women, I felt equipped yet still a bit challenged. I prayed for an opening to this message. I passed a house that was, well, let's say it had no curb appeal and was a bit run down. The sign read, "FOR SALE" - "Gorgeous inside!" Then it had a "Sale Pending" sign attached to it...... it was sold! Somebody took enough time to investigate the inside and decided it was worth it! Now, I ask you this, which would you rather, Gorgeous outside or INSIDE? I personally would rather live in a home that is beautiful on the INSIDE, than just a pretty outside, with curb appeal. How many times do we live our lives, overly concerned with the outward appearance yet spend little time on our insides.
There was my opening/ my speech, I had been given a gift from God to share. I pray this generation takes hold of that thought and changes the future!
How about you? Spend as much time as you can listening to God's perspective, I promise you, you will hear His truth whispered in your ears. You might be amazed at what you hear. He thinks His child (insert your name) is simply gorgeous and beautifully made!
Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ!
Blessings,
Denise

Happy Birthday Colton: here are your baby goats!

It was 2:15 Sat. afternoon and time to go our first of 4 games this weekend, so, I asked Colton to run to the barn to check on Mary before we left. You see, Mary was looking mighty pregnant in the early morning hours and we knew she was ready to deliver soon. Mary is one of our African Pygmy Goats. Martha is also preganat but isn't due for another week.
Two mins. later I heard Colton screaming and running towards the house. Colton was in shock over what he saw. Mary was in the process of delivering her first of 4 baby goats. Yes, we are the proud parents of 4 new "kids". This was quite an experience and we documented the entire National Geographical experience. I have attached the rated G version pictures. I praise God for His miraculous design. Mary instinctively took over, cleaned and nursed each one as they shivered in the cool environment and were brought into a barnyard of love and curiosity!
What a great gift to giver to my little vet Colton on his 9th Birthday! Isn't God great!

I haven't had much to say and have been reminded lately by a few of you. So,I will begin with a huge Happy Easter for He has Risen indeed!
I do have a fun praise report regarding my youngest son, Colton. You know, the one who burnt a hole in my floor recently while testing out fire and water. (See Jan. blog for a detailed account!) Colton is a new team member to Old Providence Baseball and this Tues. was his first game. While watching, Kenny and I exchanged glances as if to say, "OK Colton's up to bat, PRAY!" If we decided to pray aloud, it would sound like this, "PLLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE Lord give him his moment, give him confidence" .....

The 2nd and 3rd bases were loaded and Colton hit a home-run! "Colton hit a home-run" I kept screaming with my hands across my heart then raised in the air then across my mouth then in the air. I was CRAZY excited.... nothin' like meeting the team for the first time with all my volume! Oh, I was loud I admit it! In times like this I think I have been going to the wrong church all my life. I need to be in a Pentecostal or AME Zion church... I would fit right in and be oh so at home.
Praise You Lord for answering our heartfelt yet silent prayers!
The Word says, when we pray we need not wonder if He has heard our prayers, believe and allow Him to work it all together. Furthermore, it is all about the small stuff. Keeping God in everything we do and think, allows us to see Him in everything we cannot do or even imagine. He is in it all and truly cares about it all; you see it is all about His BIG plan.
Trust in it because we are all apart of it and He truly loves each and every one of His children. Let's love Him back in the best we we can! Communicate and Trust!
Blessings to you all. Denise

Old People's Riding Club

I attended a meeting this afternoon in a tack room off the side of a barn. This is the OPRA (Old People's Riding Club) chapter that is just getting started in this part of NC. The meeting started just as a powerful storm was rolling in. The thunder, lightning and intense rain-fall made me (secretly) a bit scared. Knowing the power of a storm can be a bit unsettling, however, knowing the benefits of this storm made me very content inside. Oh how we need this rain!

During times like this, we can all make the parallels to our lives with regards to the "storms" we have experienced in our lives. Sometimes we have to wait on the storm to pass. Sometimes we must pass through the storm or allow the storm to pass through us, wiping out whatever was in its path. Sometimes we are immediately delivered by the storm and never have to endure the rainfall, but this option; one we might pray for, does not always teach us much or grow our character. Regardless of the storms in your life, I pray you have the endurance to either run through or withstand the intensity of the trials. Hold on tight, it can bring great joy and growth ahead!

Please continue to pray for my horse Decaza, as we are beginning the conditioning and riding process and are praying he does not relapse.

Have a wonderful week!

He is alive indeed!

Denise

Unlike my husband, I love this day light savings thing. It is 6:50pm and it is blazing sunshine in my windows. My boys played catch outside until dinner and my horses grazed on the fresh grass. Ahh Spring is coming! New growth, new weather, new fun activities, new flowers, new beginnings. I love being and feeling renewed! It is like going to a spa and getting a facial and a massage. One time my friend Melissa and I went to the Grove Park Spa in Ashville, NC, and we wanted to be really new, really refreshed, so we stayed at the spa for 8 hrs. Believe me when I tell you this, we would have remained at that spa for another 8 hrs. if we didn't have to be at another retreat just mins. away. The Lord reminds us that we are new creations once we cling to Him. His power refreshes and restores us so that we are renewed everyday despite what we experience. Now who doesn't want a new start sometimes? I know I do. I challenge each of you as I take this challenge myself... begin each day by standing upright, firmly grounded in His peace and say aloud, as if you were face to face with God;
"I need a new start today Lord, in you I know that is possible. Today, I choose You Lord, please renew me this day"
I bet there will be a lot of shiny new faces and attitudes strutting His glory around as we step out into Spring!
Love to all, let me know how this challenge goes! I bet He will do amazing things through all of us, a matter of fact, I bet He has already begun!
Denise