Unanswered Prayers

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers...

I was listening to the radio the other day. I had it turned to country music, which is not common for me. I love listening to Christian radio, and my family just doesn't appreciate country music like I do. Garth Brooks came on the radio, and I heard a song I'd always loved, but I hadn't really appreciated it until now. Yes, I'm posting the words to the song below.

Garth Brooks
Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife nd I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again

Most of us think we know everything in high school. We find that first love, and we think that they will be forever. Yes, I was one of those people. I remember how happy, yet how angry I was then. I was happy, because I'd found someone I thought was the perfect fit for me. I was angry, because I felt loved for the first time, and he was the one that I took all my hurt on, because I felt safe enough to do so. I learned that love was not alway unconditional. We went our separate ways in college. Things just weren't right.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

I didn't know then that God had different plans for me. I did not know that the perfect man was to come several years later. After finding that I had to love God before I could love any man, I met Terry. In college, I had someone challenge me to make a list of things that I wanted in a husband. I listed 32 things. Things I had lacked in life, things I wanted in life, things that I thought would make me happy, and things that I couldn't live with in life.
Shortly after we were married, I stumbled upon that list. I read each one...check, check, check. There was only 1 thing on that list that I had to settle for...lol...he couldn't dance, but he will try.
The term "other half" is so thrown around, but Terry is my true other half. Together we make quite a team. Complete opposites, yet we both have the same goals in life. He loves me unconditionally...after meeting so many challenges in our marriage, I can now say that. Unconditional love. My wedding ring has 2 simple rings on each side of the engagement ring. 1 ring for Terry(closest to my heart), and one ring for me(furthest away from my heart and closest to him. The diamond engagement ring stands for God. The strongest, most beautiful thing. It(god) holds us together. We chose to have those 2 rings saughtered together, and for me it was so that those rings would never come apart from the middle ring.
We've had prayers answered and prayers that were not answered, but actually the prayers never went unanswered...we just got a bigger and better plan. The things we asked for and didn't receive were things that weren't meant for us or were not the right timing in our lives.
So yes, I thank God for unanswered prayers, because I look back today and see the happiness that was meant for me...a different and better plan.

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Paycheck=0=Lots of blessings

So at the beginning of this month, I was freaked out. Not because we weren't getting a paycheck, but I was freaked about how my husband would handle it. Would he stroke out or have a heart attack? Would he be a grumpy grinch? Well the answer to that is no. He has been praying, reading his Bible, and going to Bible Study faithfully.
How does one get through November and Thanksgiving without a paycheck? Well, first you pray and have faith. 2. You put your pride aside. 3. You have great friends and family that surprise you in so many ways that you can't help but feel loved and have faith!
We are now at the end of the month, and I have 200 dollars in my account. How does that happen? <3 Thanks you for the many people that anonymously gave to our family. What to do now? 1. Continue on that praying, reading, and going to Bible Study. 2. Leave the pride in the past. 3. Love the friends you have in many ways. 4. Pay it forward.

Thanksgiving

Three years ago made Thanksgiving one of my most memorable Thanksgivings. Kids had been gone to Dallas since July of that year, because I'd been in the hospital...read Butterfly days for explanation. We thought that it was going to be Christmas or January before they would be home. On November 14 of that year, we started to move from a hotel into our house. We had a few little things and a bed. That was it. We were in the process of finding toys and beds for the kids. The day before Thanksgiving my husband called me. I remember I was in the garage trying to get some things unloaded and organized. I answered the phone, and he said, "well, I just talked to your dad. We are going to Thanksgiving to see the kids, and we are bringing them home...tomorrow!" I was shocked, surprised, elated, crying, and so happy!
We left the next day to head to Dallas. The kids had no idea what was to await them. When we got there, we told them to start packing. They were so shocked. They didn't even want to wait for dinner, they were ready to GO! We could never really explain why our short weekend trips to Dallas why we couldn't take them home, and now they were actually coming home!
On our trip home, we smiled, cried, and held hands as we drove to our new home. A home that has held many precious memories for us. It's small, not in a very good neighborhood, and has mismatched furniture, but it is OUR home. A place of happiness and growth. I a place of healing and warmth.
3 years...it seems just like yesterday.

Trusting in His promises

Well, we found out today that Terry's paycheck for the month is $400. LOL. Well...we are trusting in God's promises. Lord, please put food on our table, gas in our cars, and remind us that you are here. Please give Terry peace...ok I need it as well. When we are tempted to question, we will fall on you. I'm seeking you. I love you. I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and breathe, and hear your heartbeat. Let us have joy through all circumstances.

Kari Jobe:

The more i seek you,
the more i find you.

The more i find you,
the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

The more i seek you,
the more i find you.

The more i find you,
the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand.
Lay back against you and breath,
hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace...


(Thanks to Myasia for these lyrics)
[ The More I Seek You Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

I miss you

There are some days that I miss you so much. Not the days that you didn't remember me, but the days that you did. The days that your smile would just light up a room. Your giggle...oh I loved it. I miss your house and the way it smelled. I miss sitting at your kitchen table and talking. I miss making things with you and cooking things with you. I miss the way you smelled. I miss your hands...i always loved playing with them. I miss your white hair.
I look forward to the day that I get to be in Heaven with you. No, I'm not going to try to break my way in before God wants me to be there, but I can't wait to leave this earth and be with you in Heaven. I wonder what it's going to be like. I imagine, but I know that even the greatest thing I can imagine is no match for what it will be like.
I look at the roses that were on your bed as you were lifted down into this earth, and I think of you. I hear Maggie tell me about how you are with Jesus and she misses you. It makes me miss you more. Maggie talks about you all the time. Wonder how a 5 year old can remember memories and not forget one of the greatest women to walk this earth? The most beautiful woman I've ever known. The kindest heart and sweetest spirit.
I remember sitting at your table so scared to tell you that I was pregnant and getting married. "well, things happen!" You didn't judge. You made me feel better. I remember when I was having a hard time in school, and mom and dad were going to ground me for the summer, and you told them NO! I remember walking to your house after school just because i could. I remember decorating your house for Christmas. I have that little village, and I put it up every year now. I walk into my kitchen every morning, and remember sitting at the "special table"...now that special table is where my children eat dinner every night.
I'm so glad that you were able to share so much of my life with me. I"m so glad that each of my children were able to sit on your lap and share those memories with you. I'm so glad that I had a grandmother that everyone wishes they had. You are my hero...my inspiration. I loved you so much, and I still have times when I just cry like a little girl. I'm so glad that you aren't hurting anymore, and I know I will see you again some day. Some days are hard, because i don't feel like I was there enough for you. I didn't come to see you every time I was in town. I didn't want to remember you like you were these last few years. I wanted to remember you out walking me at the mall. I wanted to remember you sitting in your chair loving all the commotion of grandchildren and great grandchildren playing in your house.
I know you are watching over me....forever and always you will be in my heart. <3 You Deedee.

Bullies are not for the Barnes!

Alexa and her bully.

Last year, Nathan AKA the bully created much chaos at our house. It started with smashing her belongings, calling her names, chunking stuff at her over our house fence, and then the straw that broke Momma's back, he punched Alexa in the stomach. I took care of it last year with a nice little Burr letter that got the point straight across.
This year when we went to go and get class assignments, Nathan was listed in her class. Panic set in....but everything would be alright. He didn't show the first day. The second day...until last Friday. He came back. By the time alexa called me after school, he'd already had a call home to the parent and lost recess, because he wasn't wanting to do what the teacher told him to do. Alexa still seemed to be holding it up at this point. Her daddy told her that if he says anything, just reply with "your momma..."
MOnday, she goes to school, and Nathan decided he wanted to change the seating arrangement around so that he could sit next to her. My teacher friend noticed and said, "I don't htink this is going to work!" Alexa hung her head and said it was ok. She then wouldn't talk to me about it after school. She did talk to her daddy, and what she told him was that they were sitting there. Some sort of conversation started, and Alexa said that Nathan Had been mean to her last year. She started the list of things that he'd done....he called me Medusa. Joelle(boy) said, Oh yeah, I remember whne you called her that...hey, you do kinda look like Medusa" Alexa's reply....well you only know what she looks like cause she's your momma!" (LOL) He told her that his dad was a police officer, and she said whatever.
Today when I got to school Librarian had already sent assist principal a note with children's names attached. She's grown very fond of Alexa and really started building her up last year as they'd read series of books together, and Alexa would out read her every time. In the end of the school year, she bought alexa the last book in the series and signed it for her. SO SWWET!
So today, I got pulled into the principal's office....scary!
He also talked to me about Alexa and Nathan(the bully). He had forgot about it from last year, and he's aware now. I had already talked to her morning and afternoon teachers at this point, and I was told that they wouldn't be put together in any kind of seating chart. The librarian(Deb) has made sure that EVERYONE is aware. She walked into lunch with me today, and he was getting ready to sit down next to Alexa...even though he'd been TOLD not to sit by her. Deb was so mad, she grabbed his arm and yanked him up and told him that he needed to sit somewhere else. She then told the PE teacher what was up...the PE teacher had him sit at another table and gave him a pretty harsh "talking to". PE teacher has become very close with Alexa this year because of safety patrol. Music teacher emailed me this weekend and wanted to know who the bully was...told him, and he said that he'd take care of that situation...he doesn't like boys that are mean to girls. Alexa was one of 65 picked out of 350 to sing in choir, and today she was told that she will most likely be picked along with 8 other kids to be in honor choir. All to say, the teachers have all fallen in love with her, and I don't think that Nathan will have any chance at surviving this school year if he doesn't make some wise choices. I don't think that I'm going to have to do anything...they are all doing it for me. :) So glad that she's shining!!!! I think God has opened doors for alexa. The kids may see glasses, a quiet girl that is shy and smart, but the teacher see a hard working smart respectful, and funny girl that has shed her glasses and gotten contacts. The shedding on the glasses was like hte shedding of the old to see the beauty created underneath those glasses. They see the beautiful, talented, and lovely lady that we see. PRAISE GOD. I continue to pray for these students and teachers. The children that are bullying so bad obviously have issues at home or otherwise that they need to deal with, because the only reason that they'd think it's ok to talk to another like this is if they were hurting so bad that they pointed their pain on someone else. IN most cases, not their fault! I pray for healing for them too

List of our family websites

http//www.facebook.com/angieburrbarnes">
ANgie's facebook site

www.youravon.com/angiebarnes
My Avon site

www.youtube.com/user/terryangieb
Our family youtube site

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fsite%2Fterryangiebarnes%2Fhome&h=47818
Family page....under construction

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fuser%2Fterryangieb&h=47818
Wylie's site

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fuser%2Ftatawmb&h=47818
Maggie's site

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fuser%2Fbandygirls&h=47818
Alexa's site