What's For Dinner?

Guess what!?! I cooked dinner! Yes, you read that right, I actually cooked. Ok, a little dramatic I know, but I have gotten out of the habit of cooking. Seems like our dinners have always suffered due to the hectic schedules we both have. Some friends of ours gave us some gorgeous red potatoes. They gave us alot so we will be haing potatoes at the next several meals probably. They are delicious so no complaints here :-) 

I decided to oven roast them for this meal

I combined some minced garlic, rosemary and olive oil and covered the potatoes in the mixture.

I then put them on a sheet pan and cooked at 350 for 40 min.

Then put sea salt and pepper on them and they were delish :-)

 I cut one chicken breast in half because we prefer the thin cuts of chicken. Then used several different spices to make a marinade and cooked it on the stove top. Then added some of my favorite summer side dishes- Fresh corn on the cob and fresh tomatoes! It hardly gets any better than that :-)

I'm Baaaaack :-)

Primary is over!!! I am back :-) You know you missed me!!

Chyanne's Birthday Cupcakes

I asked the kiddos what they wanted for Chyanne's birthday. The overwhelming response was Cupcakes :-) So we made some yummy cupcakes! My helpers did a very good job and they had a blast!

There was enough for everyone to take some home too!

All My Kiddos!!

I just can't help but post a couple random pics of the kids I watch. 

More pics of My Kiddos

Free Time

During free play last week I let the kids take apart my couch. They built a fort with the cushions and then decided to all take turns "reading" to each other. I love they enjoy reading or even pretending to read. I love these kids!



Naomi

Our new(ish) Vehicle

We sold our truck to my brother to use for his Child Evangelism Ministry and started looking for something different. Our friend Ron Hill helped us find this 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor. It's a really nice suv and it' a pretty dark blue color. There's enough room to transport cakes and my babysitting kids when I need too. It also will save us about $100 a month in gas -Hallelujah!!! Lol.

"She Had No Child"

David and I have been trying for some time to have a baby. We both love kids and if anyone was destined to be a father it's David. The kids all love Bro. David! We've been patiently waiting on the Lord, because we want it to happen in His time. Sometimes it gets so hard being patient, but I know that God's plans are far better than my own. It used to bother me when people used to ask me "So, when are you going to have kids". Now I just try to nicely tell them we've been trying but it hasn't been the Lord's will at this time. Then I ask them to join us in praying for a baby. 

 I know there are several more couples out there struggling with the same problems. So I thought I would share this devotional with you. It was written by Dr. Allen Domelle from the Old Paths Journal. This devotional deals with everyone and not just those trying to conceive. I hope its a blessing to you :-)

She Had No Child Genesis 11:30 "But Sarai was barren; she had no child." One of my relatives who had a great influence on my life was my uncle and aunt, L.J. and Bessie Parr. They are some of the greatest Christians you could ever meet. One of the blessings they had in life was they had no children. That's right, I called it a blessing! Though they wanted children, God blessed them with no children so that they could become a parent to many others. I never one time heard them complain about not having children. Though they wanted a child, they understood that it was not God's will for their lives. So, they took it as an opportunity to invest in the lives of other children, and in doing so, I became one of the beneficiaries of their influence. Just like Sarai had no children, they likewise had no children and used it as a ministry to help others. Let me briefly address how to talk to those who have no children. Be careful about asking people who are childless when they are going to have children. First of all, this is not your business. Second, this can be very hurtful to some who have tried to have children and can't. Pray for them, and ask God to open their womb. Support them, but don't be judgmental of their situation for you don't know the whole story. However, for those who have no children and would like to but for some reason God has not opened your womb, let me advise you to accept your situation as God's will for your life. Don't let your situation of not having any children cause you to become bitter. God cannot use you to your fullest potential in your current situation until you accept it as His will. Second, take your situation as an opportunity to help other children. My uncle and aunt helped so many children, that in some sense they were able to help more children than if they had their own. Maybe the reason God has not blessed you with your own child is so that you can influence more children. Invest your life in children on a bus route. Get involved in ministries where you can help children. Treat other children as you would treat yours if God gave you a child of your own. Third, do right! Don't become like Sarai who wanted a child so badly that she pushed her husband to commit adultery. Doing wrong to get a child is never right. Adultery is always wrong! Maybe God is testing your faith to see if you will do right even if He doesn't give you a child. Don't let your desire for a child be so great that it moves you to sin. Fourth, pray, pray and pray! You may have prayed for a long time, but don't give up on God. Yes, you must accept your situation and not complain about it, but it does not mean that you can't continue to ask God for a child. Unless God has plainly told you not to ask for a child anymore, then continue to pray that He will give you one. Fifth, ask your pastor to anoint you with oil. James 5:14 applies to your situation. Maybe God is wanting to see if you will humble yourself enough to ask your pastor to pray for you. I have seen God give many people a child because they went to their pastor and asked him to anoint them with oil and pray for them. Last, consider adopting a child. We preach against abortion, but we don't adopt. Though I believe you need to be careful, young girls who get pregnant out of wedlock need to know there is someone who will adopt and love that child. Maybe the reason God gave you no children is so that you can adopt one. Use your situation of having no children of your own as a ministry to help their children. Remember, God does everything on purpose. So take your situation to bless others, and maybe God will bless you with your own child. Hope this was a blessing! Thanks for reading :-)

Iowa Caucus Watch Party

David and I hosted a watch party for the Iowa Cacus. We had about 35-40 people show up to join us in Little Rock. We had a great time with all of our Conservative friends! 

 We had several news stations show up to do stories. David got interviewed by at least one of them.

I am so grateful for the opportunities that David's job gives me. I get to meet the most wonderful people. I love it!

Mining with the Kiddos

David's mom took the boys to a mining store.  They got to mine for gemstones. It was pretty neat!

They found alot of different stones: Topaz, Ruby's, Smokey Mountain Topaz, Emeralds and more!

Micah found a huge piece of Smokey Mountain Topaz. I thought it would have been awesome to have all us Meeks and Marquez ladies to have a piece of the same stone. But it didn't work out. Kelly and I got a piece from the Smokey Mountain Topaz. Kelly got a ring and I got a necklace.

*Mine is pictured below*

I really love it!!!

Mom got a ring from the blue Topaz stone. It's really pretty. The stone is originally white, but when it is cut it turns blue. It's beautiful!

 



A Smokey Mountain Christmas!!

David and I enjoyed spending time with his family in Gatinburg, Tennessee this year for Christmas. It was really special to David and I because we got to revisit several places we went on our Honeymoon. We have almost been married three years now :-) He is amazing, and the absolute perfect man for me. But anyhoo, back to Christmas, hehehe!

This Christmas was really tough for me. I was so sick the entire time. Dizzy, nauseous, stomach pains, I was exhausted, etc. And no I'm not pregnant, Lol. I felt so bad for the family. I'm not a very socialable sick person. When I don't feel well, I normally want to be left alone. I hope they understand. I feel like I kind of messed things up. Sorry everyone!

We went with everyone to Cade's Cove on Christmas Day. I loved driving through.  IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! God's handiwork never ceases to amaze me!

Here's David and I at Cade's Cove. This is going in a frame *One of these days, Lol*

Christmas Eve we went up to Ober, Gatlinburg and some of the family went down the Artic Slide.

 David with Rebecca. She had a blast with him! I had a cold, so I tried to stay away. I didn't want to get her sick.

I brought my paints and canvas' to see if the boys wanted to paint with me. Jared made these for Micah amd Jonas. He did a very good job!