This month marks the one anniversary of the birth of this website. So much has happened over the past year.  I don't even know where to begin. One night last July, Tom and I were casually talking.  I mentioned I would like to some day have a website to share Serenity's testimony. A few moments later we were on the phone with a website company. That night I sat down and began typing.  The words just began to flow out of me.  The very next day I launched Through the Valley of Serenity.

I believe God definitely had His hand in directing our steps. Our entire world was shaken during our valley with Serenity. Our eyes were opened to a completely different perspective on life. This website has only broadened that perspective.  God has forever changed our path. He set us in a direction that I believe is securing a certain calling on our lives. We are growing spiritually in a way I never could have imagined. We have a deeper love for our faith. We have a more intimate relationship with our Savior.  We have a hunger for Him that words can not even describe. 

Before we were living.... Today, we are ALIVE. 

Suddenly our lives have a meaning.  Suddenly... our tasteless existence has a flavor I LOVE to savor. We have past the point of ordinary.  We have gone beyond normalcy. We have a purpose.... God's purpose.  With every fiber of my being I do NOT want to disappoint my Savior.  I pray I never become complacent.  I pray I continue to grow and mature in my faith. I pray each day...

God give me the Grace to NEVER go back to okay. 



July 4th, 2009


                   

Combine one of Kayleigh's old night gowns along with Serenity's new fetish to put, what she calls a "Pony" in her hair and what do you get?

                  

Okay... So a couple of recent posts from some dear blogger friends of mine have my mind wheels turning over a certain topic. Kathy @ theknittingbasics and Stephanie @ livingasetapartlife are blogging about some issues concerning church.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day (the last day) approaching. " Hebrews 10:25

The word is pretty clear. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We are at all costs to make the most possible effort to attend church. God is to be first and foremost.

My family was blessed with a very Spiritual and loving church. So attendance come very easy to us.  My kids LOVE to go to church. That in itself is a blessing. 

However... many people have not been so fortunate. Many churches have become stale and complacent. Many Ministers are actually doing more spiritual harm than good. Many people are being turned off to the structural church and even Christianity. Unfortunately, the closer we come to the end times. The worse it's going to get. More and More people will be led astray. The Word says if possible even the elect will be deceived. (Matthew 24:24) That's why it's even MORE important to have a good spiritual support. We need to be surrounded by those who are sensitive to the discerning power of the Holy Spirit.

Now there is no doubt in my mind that there is a HUGE difference in Religion and Christianity. There is a major gap between those religious and those born again. There are religious people and there are Christ-Like people. There is religion and there is.. having an intimate relationship with our Savior.

In my opinion...Religious people develop a routine instead of a relationship. They are complacent. They act a certain way because of tradition without having a change of heart. They are the ones who declare Christianity without knowing Christ. They are the reason Christians are labeled hypocrites. That's why when people ask me if I'M religious I say ..."NO! I'm Born Again. I'm a member of the blood bought, the church, the redeemed." There is a difference.

I have often heard it said..."I'm not going to a church full of hypocrites." Well.. let me pose this question. Would you rather go to church with hypocrites or to hell with hypocrites. Would you rather spend a few hours a week sitting next to them in a pew or suffering with them for all eternity?

Now before you ask... I DO NOT believe a person will go to hell just because they don't go to church. However... I do believe that it makes it a whole lot harder to spiritually grow and a lot easier to become complacent or lukewarm. Why take the chance? Also... you're cheating yourself out of a tremendous blessing by forsaking the assembly.

We are blessed by blessing others. I want to be the exception in a world full of hypocrites. I don't just want to BE blessed. I want to be a blessing. If I stay at home in my own little world, how is my light going to be seen? Who's to say that there isn't someone at church on Sunday that needs to hear something God has laid on MY heart? How many opportunities to honor God am I missing by staying home? Maybe there is a little old lady that's waiting for my friendly hug or a young girl who needs to see my example. I want to be there to make a difference. So that even if the church is crowded with hypocrites, an unbeliever might see me and think "Well, maybe they're not ALL bad." By staying home.. I'm missing out on opportunities for blessings.

So we agree that we need to go to church regularly. Now Stephanie poses another question. How do we know which church to go to? We do not want to be led astray. We do not want to become complacent or stale in our faith. We want to spiritually grow. Well.. Kathy posted some great guidelines to follow. If you're already attending a church ask yourself these questions.

1. Were you inspired to live in a Godly way?
2. Were you rebuked and corrected in your Spirit by God's word?
3. Were you encouraged by God's word?
4. Did you want to dig deeper into the Spiritual realm of God?
5. Was there focus on God and God alone?
6. Was God's presence felt in the worship service? Was the
music simply entertaining, or could you tell the people were
singing to praise and not just show off?
7. Is your church involved in society.... and changing it?


If you are looking for a church, observe the other members and answer the questions on their behalf. You will also know if they are spiritually growing by the fruit they bear.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7: 15-20

Well... one year later, Serenity still LOVES to tell "knock knock" jokes. Fortunately she's getting much better at it.  The latest goes something like this...
"Knock, Knock."

"Who's there?"

"Dora."  (she also loves Dora)

"Dora who?"

"Dora is locked! LET ME IN!"

She then proceeds to giggle.... way longer than than anyone should legally be able to at their own joke.  Yet... somehow you just can't help but laugh along with her... over and over and over and over and... did I mention that she LOVES to tell "Knock, Knock" jokes? Well... She DOES!  Did I also mention that she currently knows... ONE?   Ahh.. ya gotta love her!



July 16th, 2009
                             Meet Boxer the Turtle!

    
Isn't he cute? I found Boxer by chance one day. I nearly tripped over him on the sidewalk next to my parents house. As I stared at this lonely creature I began to recall the dozens of times I refused to pull the car over when one of my children would spot one stranded along the roadside.

Hmm.. what a great surprise... I thought.

So I snagged him. The kids immediately feel in love.

For several days they played with him and cared for him. I was very proud of how responsible they were proving to be. Then a few days ago, Noah surprised me with an odd question...

"Mom did you know turtles LOVE marshmallows?"

"Oh No... Noah tell me you aren't feeding him marshmallows!"

"Uh... yeah! He's already ate a few large ones. Why?"

I sat down and had a long talk with the kids about why marshmallows are not the best food for turtles. However, despite my efforts, I still noticed marshmallows were suspiciously disappearing.

We hope you find happiness in someone else's pantry. :)

Serenity crawled over me in bed this morning.  She awakened me with gentle kisses. Her pretty little face was the first thing I saw today.  I gave her a tired grin, and then asked... "Do you know how pretty you are?"  She rolled her eyes and replied...
                "Yeah... EVERYBODY always telled me my pretty." 
                   
You have to admit... She DOES have a good reason to be so confident. :)


July 21st, 2009

In our house there is NEVER a dull moment and rarely a quiet moment.  Kids are constantly fighting, screaming, jumping, pushing, laughing, giggling, sighing, moaning, complaining, tattling, singing... well, you get the picture!  It's noisy in our house!  However, on a few occasions, the toddlers will REALLY focus their attention on something...In these rare moments there is silence.
So fair warning:  If you come to visit us and our house is quiet...
                        BE AFRAID... BE VERY AFRAID!

 
           

    I didn't happen to see my husband before he left for work this         morning but I'm guessing he left in a rush with a nice clean shave.

                  Eli and Reni however, we're in no HURRY!
  They took their sweet time while taking care of his shaving cream.
       
        

              Yes.. They definitely remembered to put it up!

   
   
    Up on their face.... Up on the WALLS... UP EVERYWHERE!

   
                 Gillette may be the BEST a MAN can get...
  But as a mom I can honestly say I've had BETTER moments!  :)



July 24th, 2009

As I'm sure you've noticed over previous posts, Our little Monkey LOVES to climb. Remember the fun picture of Reni swinging from the canopy on our bed?  Or how about the numerous times I had to retrieve her from the top bunk of her sister's bed?  She has been climbing since before she could walk.  Yes... Serenity is definitely a little monkey. 
Here she is at the park...
                 
She climbs on everything!  I have found her on top of cabinets, counters, tables, book shelves, dressers, bunk beds.  Then just when I thought there wasn't anything left for her to climb.... She surprised me!  Believe it or not Serenity has actually found a way to climb.... THE WALLS!  Yep!  I've been saying it for years... "The kids are climbing the walls today."  Well.. Serenity has finally proven me to be a truthful mama.
 
          How does she accomplish this unbelievable task...you ask. 
                                            
                     

                             She uses the curtains for leverage!



July 27th, 2009

                              More "Picnic at the Park" Pix!