Update

Barbie is out of surgery. I just heard from one of her lady friends from church.

They removed her appendix with the lap. procedure. She's awake but groggy - and obviously there's still pain.

The doctors were big dummy heads and let her go without pain meds for an hour before the surgery, so she's ticked off at them. Also, she told them when she went in last Wed that she thought it was her appendix, but they "ruled that out" with the tests. Mmmm hmm - how's that workin' for ya?

I digress ... Barbie is ok. The worst is over. Recovering from a lap surgery is a lot easier than being stuck in a hospital for a week in exrutiating pain.

She should be home within a couple of days and telling you the rest of the story.

Thank you SO much for your prayers, I know it means the world to her. (And also to me, because I love her so much!) You all rock!

Please pray for Barbie

Hey Y'all ... this is Jesica. Barbie's talked about me before. Sometimes she calls me Bald Chick.

I'm posting today to ask you all to pray for Barbie. She was having severe pain in the side/abdomen on Wednesday. She took herself to the ER. She was admitted. She's been there ever since. She's having MUCH much pain and quite a bit of nausea.

They don't know what is causing the pain. They've run a mess of tests and come up with nothing.

Sometime tomorrow, they'll be going in laparoscopically to poke around and see if they can find the problem. "Exploratory surgery" doesn't sound like much fun to me, but they can't find a source for the pain in any of the tests they've run. And they've run a LOT.

Please be praying that they find the reason for all the pain she's having, and can fix it quickly and easily. Barbie needs to be better, pain free, and home with her kids. Like NOW. So would you please join me in praying for a complete and speedy healing.

Thank you!

Prayer Request

This beautiful family needs your prayers. They had a baby in late August and on Sept 8th they found a cyst in her brain...Moms not the baby! She has undergone two surgeries since then and she is still in the hospital. They are amazing people of faith but understandably they are weary right now...this is where WE come in as the body of Christ! I know her Mommy heart wants to be home with her newborn and three young children. I know Pastor Matt wants his wife not to hurt. They know God's Word and they are standing on it so I am asking you to join us in praying for COMPLETE healing. She has had problems with short term memory and yesterday they turned off the drain and hoped that it wouldn't leak or cause more pressure...well, this morning he text messaged me that the left side was leaking from the tube and they had to sutcher it closed...now they have to wait 2-3 days...they are trying to avoid putting in a shunt..bottom line is we need TOTAL healing. Thankfully we serve a God that heals!! So I am asking you to join me in praying for Matt and Cheryl...we KNOW God can heal and we are all standing on that! Thanks for praying also! Lets storm the gates of heaven and watch the hand of God move!! And I am thanking God for His answer because I believe that Cheryl will be healed 100% and will suffer no long term effects.

Where the past catches up with me.....

WOW!! Who knew my past would follow me 25 yrs and 1284 miles later??!! Yesterday I was talking to the new guy at work while we were all in the break room...he mentioned he was a Floridian so I asked him where he was from and he said "Florida"....lol I kind of figured that but refrained from saying DUH!! :-) I asked where in Florida and explained that I was born and raised there. We kept talking and things were like really similar and then he mentioned what schools he went too and I was like "HEY! ME TOO!!"...the only problem is in my head I am still VERY young so there was NO WAY I attended school with this older man with a head full of gray hair...yeah yeah mine would be too if it wasn't for my hair dresser...STILL I am not that old;-) We DID go to school together and the worst part is once he knew that I was Barbie from that school he remembered my maiden name!! AND ME!! Then he announced to everyone that I was the BIG BULLY! It isn't something I hide because I mentioned it here high school but omword it has been 25 yrs!! I was in 8th grade!! That was the year I started attending church and eventually got saved but not at the beginning of the year when I guess I made an impression...I KNOW I was a bully! So today I brought my yearbook from 8th grade and we showed everyone...it's so funny how much the 80s have come back!! And every one seems to think it was SO FUNNY that *I* was a bully... I am thankful that people don't see me like that now because Jesus changed that part...YES I am STILL sarcastic and slightly ornery at times but I would NEVER EVER try to hurt someones feelings... not on purpose...I am quick to speak and I don't always have a "filter" but I am not mean...So today I realized that your past CAN find you and I am also thankful that

2 Corinthians 5
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Men in My Life!

One of the things I LOVE about my church is they are our family...not just mine but to everyone that walks through the doors! I don't think there IS a friendlier church! They are always doing stuff in the community and at the school I work with...things like this! How amazing is that??!!
And they do it expecting NOTHING in return..it is just a ministry:-)
When I moved here I remember wanting to find a church that we could be involved in so my children would have a support system in place...I knew I couldn't raise them alone.. I mean cmon I moved here with 3 kids ON FAITH with NO family for 1200 miles!....you know some days I think about that fact and wonder who that person was lol For those who truly know me it is so far out of my character it isn't even funny! I don't even like to make a decision about where to eat for dinner when I go out with friends! I am the laid back one that is content to do whatever! Anyway, I love that the men are involved in my children's lives...I love that when the church has "Guy Night" that someone invites my boys...I love that when a family goes hiking they involve my children...I love that when my daughter has a "Dads and Donuts" thing at school that she feels comfortable enough to ask a friends dh...I love that! I love that my children enjoy church so much and can feel that same love that I do. I love that when I don't know what to do with a growing teenager I have a youth pastor that will take him to lunch so they can talk man to man...that stuff is PRICELESS and so important. I don't think they will ever know how much they all mean to us but check out my daughters face in this picture...this is her with her "Pops" and she couldn't have been more proud to bring him in place of her Dad..these are memories they are making with my children and I couldn't ask for anything more! I am so blessed!!

Sunday's Song

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY!

Edited to add pics at bottom from shopping trip lol

**************************

Surprise pregnancy

DVT from groin to back of knee

heparin pump in belly or leg...whichever had fewer bruises

31 weeks of bedrest

on a mattress in the living room

2 little ones...5 1/2yo and 2 1/2 yo

1 hr 45 min of INTENSE labor with MUCH drama

broken tailbone cuz her hand was above her head...silly girl!!

SO WORTH IT!

Here is my beautiful daughter that is here only by the grace of God:-)

To God be ALL the glory!!

See doctors don't know everything...they advised me to abort

Hmmp look what I would have missed out on!

Ok we are off to have a girls night with a friend from church:-)

I will try to take pictures of both of them in their element...SHOPPING lol

Happy 9th Birthday baby girl!!

Ok we are back! We went out to eat salad since that is my dd favorite food. Then we shopped till the stores closed.

Oh my word my daughter is a born shopper...I am not.

BUT I have a dear friend/mentor/sister that LOVES to shop! I am going to give you a face and name so I don't have to type in friend/mentor/sister anymore lol

Introducing Emily and my friend, Cheryl

Here they are at Old Navy looking pretty serious about CLOTHES...what could possibly be serious about clothing? Who knew there were so many rules and colors lol I think I heard my daughter is a winter:-) What that means I have no clue lol

They stopped long enough to pose for me...both of them are HUGE hams!!

This is them in the dressing room at JC Penneys

SEE! They are ready to strike a pose anytime!

My daughter had a great time and Cheryl just loves to shop lol And I love spending time with both of them:-) Now just 88 shopping days till MY birthday and I will let you know where I register...just kidding! (ok Jesi that was for you lol)

Politics

This will be the only thing I say about politics on my blog....at least I think it is:-)

Actually I will just include this link because it speaks for itself
Sarah Palin Speaks To Wasilla Assembly of God

Red Rock Canyon

Have you ever done something and realized you aren't as young as you used to be?? That is how I felt the morning after Labor Day lol The kids and I met a family from church at Red Rock Canyon State Park - Oklahoma Parks, Resorts & Golf They had been camping there for the weekend and we just went to hike and join them for lunch on Monday. The kids had a BLAST! Oh my word they were in heaven! I just enjoy being with people so you know I had fun BUT I am also TERRIFIED of heights! It is one of the many reasons I am in Oklahoma because it is FLAT like Florida...well, most of what I have seen is;-) Anyway, we went on this hike and I am thinking it will be just a hike...you know like in the woods...on flat ground but NO...it was like THISAnd this

in case you were wondering if this was safe...here's your sign

Yes that says serious injury and DEATH! Did I mention I am an over protective Mom?? No comments from the peanut gallery...and you know who you are!

Anyway, the kids and *I* were exhausted when we left but I had to drive so this is what they did:-)

Rambling all the way to Nowhere:-)

I know I keep disappearing and I get quiet and quiet has NEVER been a word to describe me! Ok Jesi and Merci you can stop laughing!! I promise I wasn't purposely being quiet..I have just been very reflective lately and my online time has taken a backseat. I still go online to look up scriptures because http://www.biblegateway.com/ is one of my favorite websites! I have a friend/mentor/sister that challenges me to grow in my walk with Christ so there are encouraging emails full of scripture that go back and forth and I need the internet for the different versions..... and I pay my bills online;-) I just haven't done the regular "how are you doing?" emails because I can't....There are soooooo many things going on in my heart right now and I am trying to sort them all out. I keep telling myself that this is nothing God can't handle and I know He will....in His time:-) My job is just to trust Him. It is scary when something happens to rock your world but in another way it shows you what you believe in and who you will trust in a crisis. I quickly found out where I stand:-/ Again I wish I could say I handle stress with grace but I don't. I have issues with trust and as much as I try NOT to live by feelings there are days that I still do. I am a work in progress but I am getting better! I can actually see progress and that is a good thing! I wasted a couple of weeks living by feelings until a dear friend gave me some tough love. She is that Proverbs 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend type of friend. I am SOOO thankful that she doesn't allow pit dwelling or negative speech to come out of my mouth or I might still be there. I am also thankful for friends that call and make me laugh..I so miss you Jesi!!! Now instead of pit dwelling I am filling my mind with the promises of God and standing on that. One of the things that I am praying comes out of all of this is that my love walk with others will be stronger. I have learned how invaluable my friends are and how thankful I am for my church family. I have seen people be the body of Christ in ways I can't describe. One of the things that has blessed me so much is when someone sees what MY love language is and meets me there. I am complicated because I don't show love the way that I feel loved so some people get confused as to what my actual love language is. I show love by words of affirmation or doing for others (acts of service) or with gifts but I FEEL loved with quality time. I don't need gifts or words and I don't need people to do for me...I just enjoy being with people. I don't get drained in a crowd...I get recharged! Anyway, all that to say I do appreciate everyone's concern but I will be fine...I am just working out some things with God...In fact, that is going to be my focus for the next three weeks because I am starting a DANIEL FAST on Tuesday ...why am I doing this you ask?? For one there are some breakthroughs I am praying for in my life and in the life of someone I feel called to intercede for and I believe it is in Matthew 17 that some things only come by prayer and fasting....AND I am also doing it because I have a muslim friend at work that starts her one month fast and out of respect for her a few of us are doing a modified version....I know I am not muslim but we have had a some in depth conversations about our beliefs and I am hoping this will open the door for some more. Also back in March I read this verse

1 Corinthians 9
19-23Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

and realized I have seen this verse in action. I have been taught to figure out peoples personalities and love languages so that I can meet them at their level also. This is a sermon I have seen lived out over and over and over!!! So being the good student I am:::beam::::I am going to try and meet her at her level and share my Jesus in the process:-) See why I am thankful for the people God has placed in my life that challenge me to grow closer to God?? I truly am blessed.

Thanks again for the prayers and the concern. I appreciate them more than you know! Enjoy your holiday weekend. I need to get little ones to bed because we are meeting a family from church in Red Rock Canyon tomorrow...that is if I don't get lost! ;-)

Sing with me!!

Hebrews 13:15-16 (New International Version)
15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Notice it says with our LIPS give praise??!! It doesn't say with our feelings or heart or thoughts or any of that other stuff..it says a sacrifice of praise so I guess it wouldn't be a sacrifice if we felt like it:-) So get up and turn up your speakers and praise my Jesus with me...He is awesome:-)

Where did I go??

I know that is the question of the week lol I am here. My life has been INSANE this last month...kids came home, moved to a new home, school started with 3 kids in 3 different schools with 3 different bus routes! All of that makes for a stressful month for ANYone...add in the fact I am a single mom and some personal problems and I have been hanging on by a thread. I wish I could say I handle stress with grace but that wouldn't be truthful:-) I DO know where to go when I am hurting and I know He will always love me...warts and all:-) I don't think I will EVER understand why bad things happen but we aren't promised lives without problems...in fact, we are told there WILL be tribulation! I just have to quit listening to myself and the lies of the enemy and start talking back with the Word. I do know I am thankful for a church that preaches the Word and friends that live it...I am thankful for friends that don't listen when you try to push them away because you want to hurt alone...I am thankful for friends that literally drag you down to the altar because they know there is hope even when you can't see past the pain....I am thankful for friends that just love me and a God that will never leave me or forsake me even when I ask the hard questions and get angry. God loves us ALL that much!

For all of those who have called or emailed (even though I didn't answer) I APPRECIATED your prayers so much! I can't tell you how much it helped knowing that people were praying even if they didn't know why...God heard and I am beginning to see the light again:-)

Parents

My kids have been home a week now and I have spent the last week getting things done for school. I HATE waiting till the last minute but my kids have been in Florida all summer! To add to my stress my youngest will be at a different elementary school even though we live in the same zip code lol She is SOOOO excited but *I was NOT thrilled about having to go to the enrollment office...I did this two years ago when I moved here.....oh yeah on Aug 1st I was here TWO YEARS!! Can you believe that??!! Let me tell you God is soooo good!! I also changed the address for the other two while I was there and found out the new bus routes. The kids are beyond thrilled about our new home. In the past week I have taken them for hair cuts...can you believe they went ALL summer without them?!! Oh my word they looked scruffy! I also spent a lot of time shopping for shoes, clothes, backpacks etc. Every time I would pay I would think about the fact my parents had SEVEN of us! How could they afford 7 kids at school time?? I am struggling with just 3!! I thought about calling my parents to tell them thanks but here are the conversations I have had with them today...my parents lol not my kids:-) First my Mom left a voicemail on my cell that said "pick up...cmon pick up...I am not hanging up till you do...." ummmm Mom it isn't an answering machine;-) Then just now my Dad called my house and started asking me what I was doing. I told him we were home to eat dinner and then we were going swimming at a friends house. He acted busy and said "here talk to your Mother"...ok....so my Mom gets on the phone and asks me what I was doing and I told her the same stuff and she says..."call me back later cuz I need to put these groceries away and I am busy"....umm Mom YOU called ME lol She says "I didn't call you ! _____ did you call her?"....Anyway, there is no point to this post but I had to tell someone that my parents are insane;-) I never did get to thank them but after today I am thinking that school shopping causes you to lose brain cells. I know because at the store today I stopped in the middle and asked my kids what I was doing because I was so frazzled! So NOT kidding! Then at one point I told them we weren't there to look at toys...I was on a mission and several Moms laughed out loud so I guess I am not alone...school shopping IS stressful!!

These are a few of my favorite things....

I have the BEST friends EVAH!! Check out a few of my housewarming gifts:-) If you knew how much I love doing the lawn you will understand lol And yes those are Maytag front loading washer/dryers! God is sooooooooooooooo good! disclaimer-these are not my actual products but pictures I found online to show you what they look like:-)

My babies!!

are on their way home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my word I am so excited!! I haven't been able to post because I couldn't tell y'all this till they were on their way home AND I have been staying with a friend for the last two weeks so I couldn't.
I moved!
The kids have NO CLUE and it is a surprise so don't anybody tell them;-) I can't wait to see their faces when they walk in and realize this is our stuff lol I was with a friend two weeks ago and saw this place and God was all over the details so here we are! It has been a whirlwind the last two weeks and God has BLESSED me beyond measure. I believe I have the greatest friends in the world. I have had only one arm to work with...LOOOOOOOOOONG story that I am not getting into..........and my friends moved EVERYTHING for me. One of them even shelf papered my cabinets and scrubbed toilets...how amazing is that??!!! I have felt humbled and yet loved in ways I have never felt. I can't even express how blessed I am. God is so good! Ok I have cookies to bake and things to do before my babies come home.....YAY!! Tonight I get to hug their necks and thank God I don't have to do that for another year:-D I hate divorce~~

I'm back!

Again:-)
I am so happy to be home. Isn't it weird that no matter how much fun you are having it is ALWAYS nice to be in your own bed??!! Here I was in this great place with access to a pool and hot tub and I missed home! I did have a VERY restful time and was able to read a lot and just spend some alone time with God...I think I needed that more than even I knew! Being a single Mom takes A LOT out of you. I guess I have gotten so used to it I forgot what being rested felt like!! I was able to read A LOT and not for pleasure but for growth. It is amazing what I am still learning. I have been saved since I was 12 but the things God is showing me NOW just blow me away. I believe just being out of my situation and the strongholds being broken have freed me up to be the woman God created me to be... so WATCH OUT world;-) I am learning what my gifts are so I can be used and a couple of the books I read were on that. Interesting stuff. I won't go into all of that but God is doing so much in my life and my heart....I will never be the same:-) God is just soooooo amazing! And I am love all over again:-D

See ya next week!

I get the pleasure of house sitting for some friends at church. Not just ANY house either...this one is HUGE with a 4 car garage and a BEAUTIFUL yard that I can't wait to mow! oh yes I am!!! And they have a pool with sea salt instead of chlorine with a slide AND a waterfall...oh AND a HOT TUB!! Oh my word I am in heaven lol I don't know what I am going to do with myself! A yard to mow, water to play in, no tv or computer and plenty of books to read...outside! So if I don't answer emails it is because I am NOT home:-) Don't you all feel sorry for me at once lol

THIS SUNDAY!!!

Hey all of you American Idol fans!! LOOK WHO is coming to Lakeside on Sunday!!! Not to mention you could so meet ME and that would be worth it all lol Email me at Barbiemamato3@aol.com if you need more info or directions...and yes I know I am directionally challenged but I am sure I can figure it out!

Update on trip!!

First let me say I AM SOOOOO HAPPY TO BE HOME!!!

Wow!!! I don't even know where to start in telling you about my trip! I guess I should start with 3 months ago TODAY my friend/mentor took on the challenge of helping me "get on the other side of my pain" so I could be the woman God created me to be and "get on about my business"...3 months ago I sat in the prayer room with her at church and shared with her EVERYTHING (I don't do that!) and she made the commitment to walk through this with me..and she did!....I have been in counseling for a year this month and on meds for depression so it isn't like I haven't been trying kwim? I just didn't know what else TO DO:::shrug:::I was doing all I KNEW to do but that wasn't working....Anyway, God totally orchestrated the next few months...I was so hungry to learn and she was the willing vessel God used. He could have used anyone but most people don't listen to that still small voice.... I am thankful she did....I wonder if she knows how prophetic her words were 3 months ago when she said
And as I have told you all along........you are on the verge of something BIG......more than you can even dream up......not only will you get through this, but there is some BIG restoration coming ahead
In May she came over my place with some other prayer warriors and took authority in my home and the nightmares that I have had for almost 23yrs ended that night! GONE! In fact, A LOT has happened in the last few months on a spiritual level that I can't even explain. I have found my voice and figured out who *I* am and guess what? I actually like me! I have learned NOT to live by feelings but to make decisions and live by what Gods word tells me...I don't have to feel anything if I know the truth. The FACT is I have been hurt by those who shouldn't have hurt me but the TRUTH is I am a child of God and He loves me! He promises double for my trouble so I have learned to forgive, pray for them and then wait and expect my blessing;-) It's a comin!! I have also been released from counseling and I am OFF my meds..I haven't been happier than I am now!! EVER!!
So back to my trip....I was SOO nervous about going back and to be honest the first few days I was so homesick for Oklahoma! I wanted to come home!! BUT I made the decision that I was going to operate in truth and to take my thoughts captive...if I hadn't done that my thoughts would have become words and they would have become actions etc....I had to continuously pray my way through the trip but by the end I could see God was ALL OVER IT!! I knew I served a BIG God but I never expected all of this!!!...I only prayed I would get through the trip but God allowed restoration. I can look back at home with fond memories and know that I truly can do ANYTHING with God on my side..."when you face your fears you become FEARLESS" and I AM fearless! I serve a MIGHTY God and He loves me! Leaving my children was probably the hardest thing I did but my kids are very grounded in the Word and I have to believe that God will protect them from all the evil they are in....Plus my daughter is very outspoken and is preaching the Word at 8 yo lol Hands on the hips and all!! Gotta love having one child that is choleric!! My oldest also really stepped up to the plate and acknowledged he would have to be the spiritual head of the household while they are there...I just hate what divorce does to families but I KNOW my God can work it all out for good because we love Him!
Ok what am I leaving out??? hmmmm I went to Jacksonville, Fl for a few days before my parents and I drove to Ringgold, GA (about 8hrs)...my brother has a farm with a store on it to sell his product...we also sold at the Farmers Market! There is some big thing going on about tomatoes and salmonella so he was on TV (the Judy show??)and in the Chattanooga Times Free Press...it was the June 19th edition..front page of the B section and you can see my brother, Ken (yes! that really IS his name!) and my Mom. I was able to pick fresh veggies from the garden AND collect eggs from 200 chickens!! Stupid things kept pecking my hands!! Oh and a DUCK flew INTO my head!! I am NOT KIDDING!! I think that is why people yell "DUCK" and not bird or pigeon or chicken...just duck because they are stupid! So are chickens!! I can tell you this I AM NOT A FARMER!! Still it was nice to see family:-) We came home after a few days and I was able to see more old friends in Florida. On Monday we drove to Orlando for me to catch my flight...don't ask lol It had to do with market realignment and bankruptcy with the airline....anyway, after 18 hrs of traveling and delayed flights and LONG BUMPY flights I was home...my dear friend picked me up at 1am and I came home to CRASH IN MY BED...oh how great it feels to be HOME!! It felt great to go to MY church last night. I have missed everyone SO MUCH and I am SO EXCITED to be home...and on the other side of my pain:-)...God is SO GOOD! If *I* can get over all that I have been through and relearn some MAJOR things...ANYONE can! God truly is the God of restoration!!

YAY!!!

I am coming home tomorrow!!! I canNOT wait! So much has happened and God is SO GOOD but I already knew that lol