Mother's Day

So I'm in the middle of getting this blog updated it has some very old pictures on it...my sweet best friend is going to fix that for me but I had a post I had written just for Mother's Day and didn't want to wait to post it!

Mother’s Day, it’s a time that I normally sit and think about how lucky I am to have not one but two Mom’s and how I am so glad that I have had their love and guidance in my life. But this year feels a little different, don’t get me wrong I am still VERY thankful for Mom and Lene and I could tell them so every single day and it still wouldn’t feel like enough to show my gratitude, but this year just has a different feel to me. It could be that Sarah is now a TEEN and is starting school in August at GPS, or it might be that Colton is going to be entering Jr. High in August and I’m going to be attending his Elementary Graduation in 5 short days, but I’m feeling a little emotional. Fact is I have spent the last 13 years with my whole self wrapped up in these little lives. I love them so much, so much that it’s truly PAINFUL. I know you other Mama’s know what I’m talking about. I’ve had the privilege of carrying two children around in my belly for 9 months; I alone felt their first movement. I laughed with their first hiccups, and winced with their first kicks. (On a side note, isn’t life a miracle?! God uses a man and woman and allows them to partner with him to bring a little person into this world. Wow.) I watched the man of my dreams hold them for the first time and kiss their little heads and I loved him all over again and deeper than before. I was puked on, peed on and pooped on more times than I want to count. (Colton never missed his mark!) I lived through the Terrible Two’s and the Terrific Threes, I sent them off to Pre-K and trusted two of the sweetest women I’ve ever met with them for a few hours a day, I walked them into Kindergarten and left them crying for me (and called my Mom’s and cried on them), so many more memories, so many more milestones, I could go on all day…seriously. I think the thing that gets me is in 5 short years that first little life, my sweet Sarah is going to be leaving the nest, she has great big dreams and she is making the hard choice to leave her friends, her place of comfort, and go to Girls Preparatory School where she knows no one. She told me the other night, “Mom, I’m going to miss my friends so much but I know if I didn’t do this I would be so mad at myself for missing this opportunity.” (Wait is that my kid? Not taking the easy way, choosing what’s best instead of what feels best? I want a DNA test; I’m not very good at that. ) I know that she will continue to choose what is best for her and I have no doubts that those choices will lead her all over this big world. And my Colton Jack, in 7 short years he will be heading to college, (we are thinking he would look GREAT in Orange) he dreams of playing football and being in some sort of law enforcement like his Dad. I know God has big plans for him and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes. But here is the problem…you see 5 years ago I had an 8 year old and a 5 year old. Kindergarten and Second Grade at Michigan Avenue, didn’t that just happen yesterday?!  Plus during the last 5 years they needed me, to cut waffles, to kiss boo boo’s, to walk them into school. Sarah has a field trip Monday, Mitchell and I are simply not cool enough to attend. (I don’t know whose DNA she thinks she is carrying…she’s gonna be as cool as we are someday…I’m sure she is so ecstatic.)  Fact is they are both growing up and this is THAT season, it’s the trusting, and cutting the apron string a little at a time, and the letting go season. And I know I HAVE to do it. I’ve saw “THOSE MOM’S” you know who I’m talking about (I even have a few FB friends that could fall into the category) the mom’s who REFUSED to let go, who refused to let their kids grow up and move on and be happy even if that meant they lived somewhere else, or did something for a living that made their Mama’s palms sweat. I don’t want to be her…she’s the one that has to BEG for a phone call or visit…because when her kids show up she SMOTHERS them to death…it should be called SMOTHERS DAY for some ladies…you know I’m right. I don’t want to be a SMOTHER, I want to be Mom, the one they love and they know loves them. So I’m trying to start now…small steps…expecting them to be responsible, trusting them more every day. Letting them mess a few things up. It’s rough. Knowing I could do it better, faster, more efficiently, but the point is THEY need to learn how to do it. My kids are adjusting, no actually they are excelling! That should make me happy right, Me, Mitch and God did something right! But it makes me want to lay in the floor and pitch a fit! Baby steps…that’s what it’s gonna take. So this mother’s day my computer wallpaper says “She took a deep breath & let it go” and that is the mindset I’m trying to put myself in…not an all at once release but a series of deep breaths and small steps toward the goal of raising happy, healthy, independent, productive members of society, one day at a time. It’s not gonna be easy but it’s gonna be SO worth it! So to you ladies who find yourself in any of the moments I spoke of, carrying a baby, tending to a newborn, in the toddler years, in the school years, or already parents of adults: Happy Mother’s Day or Happy Smother’s Day you decide which one fits you!

Love is as strong as death!

Song of Solomon 8:6 says
"Set me as a seal upon your heart, 
 As a seal upon your arm; 
 For love is as strong as death, 
 Jealousy as cruel as the grave; 
 Its flames are flames of fire, 
 A most vehement flame."

I believe this verse is a warning label. I think God wanted us to understand the power of Love over a human. I think he wanted His daughters; His Princess to understand we should be careful who we give our hearts to. When God created men and women he wired us up differently, for a purpose. He told us to be fruitful and multiply. That's a two step process, be fruitful, or produce, so he puts inside men a want for women, they are visual, they see a woman and they want to be fruitful. Now they are not animals and a man being led by Christ will learn to control themselves. But women were made for the 2nd part of God's order, multiply, what good would having children be if they never made it through the baby stage? God gave women the heart of a nurturer, we want to hold someone, we want to be held, we want relationship. We crave intimacy, if you are 18 and single or 45 and married you still have the same want. Someone who can't live without you, someone who values you above all else. you want to be wanted and loved. The problem is that this mindset often draws people to you that want you but don't love you, they see a need they can fill, "whoa baby, you want to be wanted well I for sure want you!" but if we fall for that and give ourself to that kind of person we will be crushed when they act surprised that you also expect love and relationship. They seem to easily walk away while that "Love as strong as death" rips you into. Oh girl I have been there been right in the middle of that mess. I once asked a man if he loved me and his response was "I love you because you love me so much and you've always been so good to me." that will just warm your heart won't it? Not I love you because I am a better person with you or because you are my soul mate or because you are the one God made for me. Nope, basically he loved me based on what I had, was, or would do for him. So any self respecting woman would have got the spirit of slap and rung his jaws and walked away but me, I thought...well at least he loves me. I wish I could go back in time and get the spirit of slap and smack some sense into my own head!! Let me make this simple, God is the only one who will ever love you the way that fulfills your soul. Now he may send you a Christian man that you can share your life with. And that man may fill a lot of needs but he will mess up, he'll come in from work and you will want to snuggle and he'll want to snore. He'll forget a birthday or say something that hurts your feelings. He's human but you should NEVER have to question his intentions, he should be there to be your partner and love you for the rest of your days ( Thank You Lord for Mitchell Roe my perfectly imperfect husband!) but he cannot complete you, he can't heal your heart from the misuse of those that came before him and he can never give you the true intimacy you desire ONLY GOD can fill that need!!! A few years ago I had my lightbulb moment and realized I was expecting my husband to fill roles made for Christ I can't begin to tell you how my heart changed when I straightened that out. Have I been perfect since then? No but I have recognized more quickly when setting my self up for a let down because of placing expectations on people who will never fill them. Jesus truly is the lover of my soul. He loves me for all the right reasons and since the day I said I do to him as a 13 year old girl he has never stopped holding me. Give your heart to Christ, it's the only place it will be safe. 

Chicken Noodle Soup

I am home with Mitchell today and I just made a batch of my homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. It's a pretty basic recipe but I thought since I had some time on my hands I would post it so that if you don't have a Chicken Noodle Soup recipe of your own you can try this one next time someone is feeling under the weather...actually at our house we eat it when we are perfectly healthy too! Hope you enjoy!!

1 pkg boneless skinless chicken tenders
1 large can chicken broth
1 large (family size) can Camp*ells Cream of Chicken Soup
5-6 large carrots (washed and peeled)
1 large yellow onion diced
5-6 thin stalks of celery (washed and sliced)
Egg Noodles (My favorite is No Yolk's)
Salt and Pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil add in chicken and boil until cooked, remove from water and skim off any excess fat. Add in carrots, onion, and celery. Dice chicken and add in with vegetables. Stir in Cream of Chicken Soup.

In a separate pot pour in canned Chicken Broth and bring to a boil, add in Egg Noodles and allow to cook until almost done, pour noodles and broth in with the chicken and vegetable mix. Salt and Pepper to taste.

I have found that when I cook the egg noodles in with the veggies and chicken they tend to break down quickly and I don't like mushy noodles. :-) So, I wait and add them at the end and let the whole mix cook on low for about 10 minutes. This makes a huge pot of soup we will eat on it for days. Just reheat on the stove and add in a little more chicken broth as needed!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

In Christ Alone,

Sherri

Just the three of us!

Well it has been quite awhile since I posted but things have been very busy. We are now moved into the new house and we have been here for a few months now. It finally feels like home. I still have some decorating to do but all in all things have been wonderful here.

Today my wonderful husband had Gallbladder surgery. I was thinking about how he has stood by me through so many surgeries. He has held my hand and prayed me through 2 C-Sections, an Ablation, a Hysterectomy, an Appendectomy, a Gallbladder Removal, and 2 back surgeries. If you are keeping count that would be 8. 8 times that he has kissed me bye as they rolled me into the OR. 8 times that he has sat in the waiting room and prayed that everything was ok. 8 times that the nurse called him in to the consultation room, 8 times that he's gotten good, bad and in between news from doctors. 8 times he has smiled at me as I opened my eyes in recovery, 8 times that he has fed me ice chips, and held my hair while I got sick (anesthesia and me are not friends.) 8 surgeries. 1 Amazing Man.

Well today I was able to return the favor, I held his hand a prayed with him, I kissed him bye, I prayed while he was in the OR, I stood up when the nurse called for his family, I listened as the doctor told me everything went great, and as I smiled at him when he was opening his eyes in recovery I thought "Man, this is what LOVE really feels like!" Love is not a funny feeling you get when you see a man, Love is not flowers for no reason, or a big diamond ring. Love is knowing that we have each other. No matter what. It's me, Him and God. And that my friend is the perfect picture of true love. Just the three of us. To hear more about what LOVE is go visit my Dad's new blog http://lastwordministries.blogspot.com/ if you visit leave a comment and let him know I sent you!

In Christ Alone,

Sherri D. Roe

Awake.

Awake, O sleeper,


and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5:14
 
I feel like this verse was written for me. If you read the chapter surrounding this verse you will see a list of things done in "the dark" and a warning to stay away from those things. Then the Bible tells us that when anything is exposed and brought to the light it becomes visible. It is no longer hidden, it can be dealt with. 
 
Well for a few months I went to sleep. I just laid down and took a nap...in the dark. But here is the issue when you have been in the light you will never be satisfied with the dark. I got sidetracked. I had two surgeries,last time I thought or prayed about adoption it was summertime the August heat was upon us and I was praying for a job that I could get insurance with so that I could be sure that all of our children were taken care of medically. Then I got the job. Before I knew it Halloween came, Thanksgiving came, Christmas came, New Years came,  and here I am 6 months down the road, we haven't applied for adoption, we have no money saved, and out there somewhere there is a child (or there will be a child) that God picked just for us and we have done nothing about it. I have even said a few times...well since my surgery I don't know that I could handle another child. I also said my kids are older and easier now I don't know if I want another child. Ugly isn't it. Human nature. The want to be comfortable, the want to do what's easy, the want to do what every one else does...but it's not enough.
 
Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
 
When I read that scripture I can't stand myself...If anyone was ever taken away to death...it would be the orphans. Maybe not all of them are in immediate danger of physical death but I went to Ch*na, I looked into the faces of children without a family, trust me they are dying inside. They need a Mom and Dad. They need a home. They need love. And I need to obey. Please pray for our family. We have to make some decisions, sooner rather than later...I don't want another 6 months to pass, I don't want to fall asleep. I want to be wide awake and busy about my Father's business.
 
In Christ Alone,

Sherri

Little is much when God is in it!

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

This is the story of The Widow's Offering. I have read it several times but today I want to concentrate on a few words in the 44th verse. "but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." I figured out what she gave and in today's time she would have given about $1.86. Not much is it? Well Jesus thought it was something.

God showed out today in my life, he taught me a lesson, one that I have to lay my Pride down and tell you about. I have been in places of abundance in my life and I have given "large" (in my world anything over $100 is large...lol. We are rich people but just not as far as the bank is concerned!) amounts to causes that God has laid on my heart. I have to admit it hasn't really made that much of a difference...didn't mean that much...didn't cost me alot...I still had plenty. But these days things are different. Because of my 2 surgeries in the last 4 months and because I am out of work on Short Term Disability and because Christmas was last month, and because our tax return is going to be non-existent this year...well we just don't have a lot of money to give these days. Don't get me wrong, God has supplied every need. We have food to eat, gas in our cars, money for things the kids need, we just don't have a lot of money left over at the end of the month...or at the end of the week some weeks. But that is fine. God taught me a long time ago to be satisfied with little or with much. Sometimes my sweet husband gets a little miffed that I don't worry about finances but I just can't worry. God has taken care of me time and time again. I can't help but trust Him! Anyway like I said right now is NOT a time when we have a lot of money to give but today God gave us a chance not once but twice to give out of our "need" (I use that word in quotations because the situation I am in is NOT poverty as the verse says, to most of the world they would consider themselves rich to have the exact same resources as I have...it is just a place of need compared to where we have been when I was healthy and working 40 hours a week.)

I am not going to tell you how he let us give because I think it's better not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing but God worked things out so that we were able to give abundantly even when we did not have an abundance of money.

In one situation I was aware of the need and I longed to help. It was for a great cause and my heart just "gets" the people I wanted to give to. I was on my way to the doctor today and I was telling my husband I want to help them. I want to give I wish we had it to give. By the time I got home God had shown me a way to give and as I write this post that family has benefited from what God gave me to do. God's word is true and when we make the desires of our heart line up with His will He will make those desires come to pass! I just can't stop praising Him! Thank You God for being able to use nothing and turn it into something!! Remember LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT!

In Christ Alone,

Sherri

P.S. I want to say one more thing...God showed me last night that I had a bit of an addiction to my IP*d touch and to my Fac*book account, He convicted me and I decided to fast from both for 24 hours. I truly believe that I would have missed both of my chances if I had my focus on that IP*d and Fac*book all day. I am not saying that using those things are a sin, I am just saying sometimes we need to see how much time we are spending on that stuff compared to how much time we are spending in God's word and ministering to His people. I am going to make sure that I keep my time in check. I don't want to be addicted to anything except Christ, His Word, His People, and His Presence! Just thought someone else might need to hear that as well! God Bless!!

So it's been awhile!!!

Hi bloggy world! I have been away for awhile but I visited one blog tonight and found myself clicking on another, and another...and before I knew it my heart was overflowing and my fingers needed to type. You girls do that to me. Seeing God in you makes me a better person. I sure love you guys!!

I will spend a few minutes telling you what has been going on around here since the last time I wrote...which was September 9th! Wow I haven't written in over 3 months...time flies when you are having surgery I guess!

Back in October I had some sickness and ended up needing my Gallbladder out, I was out of work for about a month and then went back to work and worked until the first of December. I had an MRI and as some of you may know I have had back problems for years and years. I fell about 4 years ago and ruptured a few disk's in my back. I had one surgery about three years ago and things had been going fine then about 8 months ago I started having lots of pain in my left leg. I had a new MRI in November and we found out I had a HUGE disk rupture my nerves were in bad shape, I had began to lose use of my left leg and my doctor worried that I would lose control of my bladder and other bodily functions...so less than a week after the doctor saw the MRI I had a back fusion. This is a huge deal since I am just 30. I now have 4 screws and 2 rods and a mesh "fake disk" in my back. I have been out of work for over a month now and my doctor estimates that it will still be at least 2 to 3 more months before I am able to go back. Thank God for Short Term Disability and for a wonderful husband who has taken care of me!

Things have been rough we went through Christmas with me barley able to sit and it was hard not to be able to do the things I always do for Christmas. But God provided and we improvised and everything worked out!

I have to say I have been a little bummed because of the outlook that I have been given with the steel in my back. I won't be able to bend as easily and I really can't be lifting or carrying anything or anyone...this makes the idea of adopting seem a little far fetched but I know all things are possible through Christ and I look forward to being surprised by exactly what I am able to do after my healing is complete.

I will continue to try and catch up with everyone..I hope that you are all well! God Bless!

In Christ Alone,

Sherri