Taking Our Country Back Tour

Well, on the spur of the moment last Saturday, I decided to be spontaneous and I splurged for the ticket price and went to the Ford Center for the Taking Our Country Back Tour.  I was so glad I did.  I learned alot.  After Glen Beck spoke, they had a tribute to Oklahoma soldiers who had lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then their families came out on stage, many with large photos of their loved ones.  It was very moving, and the entire audience was on its feet.  My photos are not very good as I was not close and the lighting was not advantageous for taking a photo from so far away. 

Survive 'N' Thrive by Arise Ministries

  June 11th and 12th, I was blessed to experience the Survive 'N' Thrive Statewide Single Mothers' Conference.  It was held this year at Crossings Community Church.   Arise Ministries was started by Pam Kanaly and Shelley Pulliam and you can tell that it is truly a ministry to both of them. 
  Pam gave two wonderful sessions, called Surviving Tidbits.    Bear with me, this is somewhat rambling...but here are just some of the things she told us to do: About Face and cast your burden on God (my paraphrase, your difficulties and struggles do not define you.  As you give your broken pieces to God, He will sustain you, you will draw closer to Him, you will persevere and it will build your character);   Be season oriented (if your children are still at home, make this time count, be intentional with your parenting, according to God's Word.)   Chase after Godly control.  You need to understand what you are healing from.  Learn how to be single.   Two pitfalls of single moms:  looking for rescue with another man and not seeing yourself as precious to God.    When it is time, if God allows, learn to date God's way.   Establish who is in control of your life - is it you or God?   
  I also went to 3 wonderful breakout sessions: one was by Cindy Beall on Choosing Forgiveness over Bitterness (if you don't know her story, see her blog);

another was on learning to hear God by Alice Richardson; and the third was on using your time wisely by Beth Cox-Brown and she had great information on communication styles so that you communicate appropriately, spiritual gifts, the 5 love languages, David Isaac's Key Human Virtues, Age Appropriate Chores and so much more.  

  And I had a great time bonding with girlfriends.  Who could ask for a better or more enriching weekend?