Bored!

Well hello everyone out there in Blog-land USA! It has been a while since I have posted hasn't it! I am sorry for not updating and/or blogging for a while as I was extremely busy with work. Now that I have been laid off, I find myself being extremely bored trying to find new things to do. I have painted part of our house, stained the gazebo over our jacuzzi, cleaned out my toolbox and tool bag (now that I am not using it much anymore). In other words, My mind is racing and it is hard to put on the brakes and pray to God that he finds me a position in a company that keeps me close to home. Work is so sparse out here that I am seriously stressing if I am going to find anything in the near future. I know it has only been one week since I have not been working, but I am that kind of person who has to be doing something or I will drive my wife (Kat over at Heart 2 Heart ) and our kids absolutely CRAZY!


My wife and I have talked about my issue several times and I know she is sick of hearing it, I just wish she knew how much I love her and our wonderful kids that I worry about making our mortgage payment, bills and just being the provider I am supposed to be. She has said so many times that she doesn't care where we live or how we live just as long as we are together. Now my problem with that is I do care where we live and how we live. I am supposed to be a Godly man and look to our father in heaven for an answer to my prayers which is God, father in heaven, please see you way to give me strength in these troubled times and lead me to a new job. I lay these stresses and worries at your feet, your will be done. AMEN!


Now that I have said this and prayed, I am hoping to give myself enough peace to not do a whole Extreme Home Makeover!

Well, thank you all for listening.

Take care and as always!

Keep the Faith,

Raising A Modern Day Princess

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White - how many girls, at some point, dream of being a princess like these fairy-tale characters?

In Raising a Modern Day Princess, authors Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna, come alongside mothers and mentors to offer practical help in raising a generation of women to see themselves as God sees them - as daughters of the King, true modern-day princesses. In an easy-to-use step-by-step style, the authors show moms how to create a fun-filled and life changing rite-of-passage experience celebrating their daughters' crossover into womanhood. There's also an entire chapter to help dads and father figures understand the vital role that they play in their daughter's lives. With personal stories and advice from real moms and daughters, this book speaks to the heart of every woman who longs to instill in her daughter a true sense of purpose, value, and strength...(back cover excerpt).

I absolutely adored this book and I received it at the perfect time while my oldest daughter is entering her senior year. It provided me with the opportunity in the short time I have left with my oldest to do all I can in this coming year to be the dad, and mentor I need to be to instill in her, all that God wants her to be. The quotes scattered throughout the book are right from fairy tales and famous movies that instill the positive qualities we hope our daughters will carry on into their lives, families and marriages.

The book talks to not only moms but as women the girls whose lives they touch as friends and mentors and how important it is for them to take the time and really teach these younger women what a Proverbs 31 woman is really like.

In one chapter, it talks about providing a ceremony where you can provide their first promise ring and teach them the importance on staying holy, or you can use a graduation from high school to gather together friends and family to share their insights on watching her grow from childhood to becoming an adult. I personally think its what every daughter truly dreams of, is that recognition that she is an adult and thus, how proud of her and her accomplishments in getting this far.

I received this book compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for this review and like I said, its great for anyone who impacts the lives of girls under 21, be it grandparents, pastors, parents, family members and friends. This is a must have. There is so much knowledge to be gained by reading this book and hoping it makes me a more profound role model in my daughter's life

For more information about this book, and where you can purchase a copy, click on the link below:
http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/1_products/details.asp?isbn=978-1-58997-574-3

The Map - The Way of All Great Men

A Map, written in code, and hidden in the gospel of Matthew, reveals a truth so explosive it could rock the foundations of Christianity or lead to its rebirth.

A cleric appears out of the rain-spattered darkness, bearing a mysterious message: a long-lost map with the power to transform men is on the verge of being discovered. Thrown headlong into a global chase, author David Murrow must race to find the map before it falls into the wrong hands and disappears forever.

The Map, by David Murrow, which begins as an action thriller and then transitions into a modern-day parable, reveals the path every great man – including Christ himself – has walked.

In this dynamic follow-up to the best-selling Why Men Hate Going to Church, Murrow cleverly translates the masculine spiritual life into an actual, ink-on-paper map. Then he shows men where to find the map in the New Testament and how to walk it’s ancient paths today.

Church is too feminine. But if a man is to become whole (emotionally and spiritually), he must shed his macho pretensions and do things that many would consider girly. The softer virtues do play a vital role in a man’s spiritual development. Christian men can’t simply ignore commands such as “turn the other cheek” because they seem unmanly. Every guy needs a good boo-hoo now and then.

But if a man gets too acquainted with his softer side, he risks becoming a softy. This is a huge problem in the church today. Authors such as John Eldredge, Bill Perkins, Mark Gungor, and Paul Coughlin have all noted the emasculating effect that modern Christianity is having on men.

So where is the balance point? How can men get in touch with their feminine side without becoming feminized? One day I stumbled across the answer. I discovered the ancient map to manhood – in a most unexpected way.

I received a copy of The Map, compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and must say, I truly believe every man should read this book. Just like the statement above the book deals with both sides of a man, the masculine and the feminine side or softer, sensitive side, that all men have. This book teaches you how to balance those two extremes for us men, without being overly sentimental and not sensitive enough.

If you would like more information on this book including where to purchase your own copy, click on the link below:

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=0785227628&title=The_Map

Letters, Letters and More Letters

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who is praying for Kat at Heart to Heart! She has been doing very well as far as mentally these past few days and I am positive it has been because of all of you out there responding back through Gods great strength. We just went through "Stage 3" as my wife has been calling it with finishing up the pre-op blood tests, chest x-rays and EKG test just to make sure she is healthy enough for the surgery. So now the next step is to just keep her happy and well rested until tomorrow morning. I still have the prayer button (now fixed and on my right side bar) for everyone who wants to put it on your blog while Kathy is recovering from surgery.

If you could be so kind as to mail her and email her while she is out for the next few days recovering. I know that she LOVES receiving mail from all of her friends out there in the Blogging World! So if you have the chance and can write her a postcard, letter, or even just a little note saying hi and that you are praying for her it would be so appreciated! You have been such a blessing to her, more than you will ever know. Thank you and keep those letters coming in! If you need our mailing address, please email me at stevenkat27@verizon.net or pirate2768@verizon.net and I will be happy to send you our address.

Keep the Faith,


Oh one more little Idea I wanted to share with all of you! We were at the hospital yesterday when a woman walked in front of us wearing a shirt that really caught my attention.

It said

"Dear God,

Why do you let all of our children suffer through so much violence and pain in our schools!

Signed,

Concerned student.

Right below it was what God responded with.

Dear Student,

I am no longer allowed in schools!

Signed,

GOD

Makes you really think where our priorities are in this world huh!

Please Pray for my wife during this week!

I just wanted to post a Blog today to say please pray for Kathy at Heart to Heart this week!


I have put together a little Prayer for Kathy awareness button so many of you can put it on your Blogs for this week. She is having her Hysterectomy and exploratory surgery on Thursday at 7:00 am with a check-in time at 5am. Hopefully if all goes well the surgery should only last an hour to an hour and a half, then on to recovery. I have attached a prayer button for everyone who wants to put this on their site to please keep her in your prayers this week.

I am so thankful to have her in my life that I would do anything to keep her from having any pain, much less the pain she has been in. So grab the button on the right side bar and add her to your prayers if you would be so kind.

Thank you all so much!

Steve