Out with the old... In with the new! JESUS, NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE

Well.... Happy New Year.... umm almost. This is usually a sad time of year for me, as I have issues with letting things go and saying goodbye. However, I am determined to not get too down this year because I really have nothing to be down about. You ask, are things perfect in your life? My simple reply.... nope! But God has blessed me TREMENDOUSLY by sending His son JESUS to die for me and offering me the awesome FREE gift of salvation. He has also blessed me with a WONDERFUL family including my top of the notch parents and brother, AWESOME hubby, GOOD career and education, Amazing church and pastor, EXCELLENT friends (including those who dwell with Jesus now... I love you Danielle!), Good health, etc. I could go on and on and on... So here I sit, 25 minutes until 2007 and I thank God for all these good and special blessings. I thank Him for all his mercies in my life.

Heavenly Father,

I praise you for who you are, have been, and always will be. I thank you so much for sending your Precious Son JESUS, to die in my place. How amazing that You would go through all that suffering for me, before I was even a seed in my mother's womb. Yet you knew me even then. Praise God! Thank you for my mom and dad and for all the love they have shown me throughout my 25 years. A love that mirrored that of yours. Thank you for them and bless them tremendously Jesus for their lifelong service to you. May their days be long upon this earth if it be THY will. Thank you for my Godly little brother. Amazing that He is going to start of 2007 by getting his permit to drive. Lord, please preserve him physically as he learns this trade. Most importantly God, continue to preserve him spiritually. I praise you for answering my prayers to keep him on the straight and narrow pathway. I also praise you for healing his body through his health situations this year. May we always bring the praise to you for all our healing and well being. I thank you for blessing me with a wonderful husband who has grown so much in you in this past year. I thank you for our ups and our downs. I thank you for being right there through it all. I thank you for teaching us to build upon Your rock for a firm foundation. I thank you for my in laws who far surpass what I could have hoped for. They truly are family to me. I thank you for my friends, those present on earth and those present in Heaven. Thank you for their influences in my life. I thank you for my career and my education. I could have NEVER made it without you. And Jesus, you don't just see that we get by when we need you, you truly bring us out on top. I would have NEVER graduated as Salutatorian of Union in 03 without your guidance and blessings. I thank you for that, not for the glory of it, but for the blessing that you reaffirmed to me that hard work really does pay off. I thank you for my wonderful church and the greatest pastor preaching today! I am so mesmerized by your word and your influence on my little pastor William Boyd. I truly see YOU in him. Lord, I thank you for anything else that fails my mind at this moment. I thank you for seeing me and my family through another year.
Lord, I humbly ask of you now that your will be done in ALL areas of my life this year. I pray that You keep my family and I guarded in a special hedge of protection. Lord, build a hedge of protection around my friends, my church, my pastor and his family, my students, and all those that I love. I ask that you guide Michael and I in the year ahead to make correct decisions and good choices. Help us in all areas that we need help in. Most importantly, help us to totally surrender all to you. We want nothing more than for you to be the link that ALWAYS ties our marriage together. Without you, WE WILL FAIL. Lord, please help me to achieve better health in the upcoming year. Help me to feel more energized and to make more health conscious decisions. I pray that for my whole family. Lord, heal my mother and father and brother of any ailments that remain in their bodies. Heal us all of mental, physical, spiritual, etc because we need this more than anything. Thank you Jesus for everything that you do every second of every day. I love you with my whole heart and soul even if I sometimes fail to show it properly. May I grow in you this upcoming year more than any year in the past. I love you Jesus and I desire your presence in everything I do. In your name I pray, Amen.

I PRAISE MY SAVIOR!

It is 6:49 am here in my bed. I am just now relaxing a bit again. My babies went home today with their granny and momma and I've been relaxing all day. I fell asleep at 9 and then Michael wanted dinner, so I ran out and got us both something. Then, I read some stuff online until I fell asleep again at like 12am. I woke up at 4:45am and flipped out because Lea wasn't laying here. I had gotten so use to her sleeping with me that I missed her and was worried. I finally realized she was home and I got up to get a cold water from the kitchen. I came and laid back down and started feeling pain in my back. It kept getting worse. I thought it was another one of my massive back episodes (which now I'm not sure if that's what it has been all along!) so I heated my rice pack in the microwave and I put it under my back. Nope, didn't last long.... I was up again. Michael came in here to go to bed and I was bawling. He rubbed some Icy Hot on my back and told me that he thought it was indigestion. He asked if I had had my Nexium and I said no. I thought I was out. I cried and paced the floors. I dug through my medicine stash and found a bottle of Nexium. I was so sure I was out... Thank you Jesus! I took one but it didn't stay down long because about 10 minutes later I was throwing up something awful in the bathroom. I finally had no energy and I tried to lay down. Not happening. I had to lean against the back of my bed. Michael moved to the couch so I could flip on the T.V. to try to get my mind off of it and I continued praying. God touched me and the pains slowed down. I am now weak and exhausted, but I feel a lot better. And.... I am laying down now. So I wanted to say Thank You to my Savior for His mercy on my aches and pains this morning. He is far greater to me than I deserve. Praise you Precious Jesus!

P.S. I'm going to try to sleep now... Sunday School is only 4 hours away!

God's Forgiveness

Ya know... I love hanging out with kids. It reminds me so much of God's forgiveness. Little children are so in tune with their feelings. They are so caring and so loving. Today I was upset about something that I had on my mind and I was crying. My Lil niece came up to me and was so concerned. If you'll ever watch a child, their love and concerns are genuine. Its so reflective of God's love. God knew exactly what He was doing by placing children in our lives.
Switching gears, a child forgives and forgets. Little children get into trouble, get punished, and never hold a grudge against you forever and ever over it. God is the same way. We push and push and get into trouble. God lets us by with a whole lot more than He should because he is long suffering, however, when He does chastise us, He does so out of love. When we ask Him for forgiveness, not only does He forgive, He also forgets. Wow! That is astonishing to me. Can you imagine if the world were that way?

Acts 2:21 King James Version
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

That verse says it all. We are vile sinners. Even the best one of us. Yet God, who has done soooooooo much for us already, extends His forgiveness to ALL of us so that we may be saved. Then He turns around and offers it again, EVERYTIME we ask for it when we mess up after we are saved. How amazing!

I look at myself sometimes and I am in awe of the God in whose image I am created in. He created me to be like Him. I am farrrrr from who He is, but He loves me regardless. I am repulsive and I have the stench of sin every moment of every day. Even when I am feeling so close to God, I am the worst among sinners. But He loves me. He loves me for who He knows that I am inside my heart. I will never be perfect, or even close to it, but He will never stop loving me. That's such a CHRISTmas gift in itself. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.


I sometimes wonder why He chose me to be me. Why did He choose me to live the life I live, marry the man I married, be reared by the most awesome family ever, celebrate so many accomplishments, work in the profession I do, be born a U.S. citizen, be blessed to live in a Bible believing area, be blessed to be able to mention the name Jesus and have most every child I know have a positive statement to contribute? Why was I blessed to develop such a strong friendship with my beloved Danielle during her last years on earth? Why do I have the great parents that I have? The great in-luvs that I have? I could continue.... the point is that God has blessed me greatly indeed in order for me to be able to bless His HIGH and HOLY NAME in all of the above areas. What a wonderful Savior that I have! The following verse is my prayer tonight and most nights.
Psa 17:7-8 King James Version
"Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,"

The Little Tykes Come To Visit!

Uncle Mike helps Alec with the Bug Zapper at Gattiland!
Alec and Uncle Mike get ripped off on a game!
Lea poses
The kids catch honeybees with Uncle M
Lea looks sleeeepy as she counts her tickets!
Alec is banging the bugs!
Lea is stomping the ...umm... not sure what they are.

Lea snoozin' this mornin'.
Beautiful skyline here as we drove to Gattiland.
Lea smiling in the backseat.
Alec playin his Gameboi in the back.
Alesha and Mike take a horrible picture!

Holidays with the Goodletts continued

Father-in-Law and the Slicker
Alec and the gameboi
Lea doing ballet
My sis-in-law FeFe hating my picture taking!
Alec with the WALKER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SAVIOR!

I AM WRITING IN PURPLE TODAY TO PROMOTE ROYALTY. THE KING'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY AND THERE'S MUCH NEED TO CELEBRATE. I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE IN THIS KING'S FAMILY, ARE YOU? TODAY IS A DAY FOR US TO ASK OURSELVES, CAN I HONESTLY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS? YES, WE CAN ALL SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS AND FEEL A TWINGE IN OUR HEARTS, BUT, WHAT DOES JESUS' BIRTH MEAN TO US? IS IT THE BIRTH OF A GOOD HEARTED MAN OR THE BIRTH OF YOUR SAVIOR? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU. THAT'S A PERSONAL QUESTION FOR YOURSELF. I WOULD URGE YOU TO READ THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS FROM MATTHEW 1 AND 2 AS WELL AS LUKE 1 AND 2. THESE ARE THE CHRISTMAS STORY AND PIECES THAT I FELT WERE DIRECTLY CONNECTED ENOUGH TO POST WITH THEM. IMAGINE THE MANGER SCENE, THE SCARED YOUNG GIRL AND THE NEW FATHER THAT IS BEWILDERED WITH A CHILD HE DIDN'T PHYSICALLY HELP CONCEIVE. PONDER ON THE OBSTACLES THAT WERE FACED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THIS MIRACULOUS BIRTH. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ASK YOURSELVES, IF I WERE TO DIE TODAY WOULD I BE CELEBRATING THE KING'S BIRTHDAY AT HIS DINNER TABLE OR WOULD I BE IN TORMENT? BOTH OPTIONS ARE AS REAL AS THE SCREEN YOU ARE STARING AT. PLEASE, ON THIS CHRISTMAS MORNING, ACCEPT JESUS' FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS. TELL HIM THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT HE IS GOD'S SON AND THAT HE DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS. LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN AWE THAT HIS AROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY AND LIVES FOREVER MORE IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR YOU TO JOIN HIM. AND LET ME KNOW OR SOMEONE KNOW IF YOU RECEIVE THIS PRECIOUS GIFT. I CAN ASSURE YOU, IT IS THE MOST BLESSED GIFT THAT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE. I LEAVE YOU WITH A VERSE FROM 2ND PETER 3:9 BEFORE SENDING YOU OFF INTO THE CHRISTMAS STORY....

2 Peter 3:9
King James Version
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Matthew 1 JOSEPH'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE GOOD NEWS

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 2
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.


11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Luke 1 MARY'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE GOOD NEWS
26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Luke 2
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,



15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) <----LOOK GUYS.... A WINK FROM GOD!

24And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

POWERFUL!

Christmas with the Goodletts (and the Saunders, Mattinglys, Trans, Tapps)

MORE PICTURES FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cousin A.J. unwrapping his gifts on his work break!

Alec opening "THE MILLENNIUM FALCON!"

Lea's BARBIE LAPTOP!

Alec with his ATAT Walker (not a clue?) hehe

The kids trying to take a nap with Uncle Mike and Slick!

Michael and his trolling motor! Go BassPro!
Prior to the unveiling of our new boat equipment!

Heather, FeFe, Becky, Adam (picking up stuff) and Slick!
Keith (Michael's pick on partner) relaxin' after dinner!
Lea playin on her laptop! Check out her stylin' outfit Aunt Carrie bought her. I almost didn't get her to put it on, she slept forever!

Adam and Jessi!
Lea.... still laptopping it!
Alec, Austin, Lea, and Ken with The Walker.... I asked if it had gotten dirty because it had brown paint on the feet.... they all laughed!
Michael talking about the new troll! hehe
Isn't my hubby cute? He's wearing one of his new shirts!

The only REAL pic I got of my cameraphobic sis-in-law FeFe. I had to hide outside on the porch to get it. I also aggravated her by giving her a bag of candles with elastic handles.... she couldn't pick it up!
Aunt Becky sampling a mini-banana split pie by Carrie!
Keith comes to sample, too!
Heather and Carrie. I love Carrie's shirt.
Cute outfit! Carrie, Jessi, and I gathered in a bedroom to watch TV and play rummy and escape the madness. 19 people were here in all. I am learning to get use to lots of company but I come from a small family that rarely hears noise hehe I am missing my momma, daddy, bro, and puppy on this Christmas day. They are actually at the movies watching the new Rocky.

Who do I look like?

My Babies.... Lea and Alec

Pictures of me goofing around with my favorite lil people... Lea and Alec.