Lessons Learned from the Fire

Simplify.
One of the main things I have learned in this time away from our home is that I have way too many things. I have all I need here at this hotel room and I am not missing anything at our home. What does this mean for us? A major purge is coming! I will probably try to have a garage sale just to try to make a little money to help with our expenses through this ordeal and trial but the rest I am giving away. I cannot believe it took a fire to help me see that. I think I was just in denial really because I do complain often about messes. I see the overflow of toys and things coming into areas they should not be located. Now I am certain we just don't need all that stuff. Simplify is what is happening at the Parsley home. The girls have been talked to so I hope this transitional period will not be terribly painful for them. They have come to realize all they need they have here too.

Priorities.
Honestly I knew this already but helping my family in continually pointing them to the cross is what matters. This tight space and trial is exposing yuck in all of our hearts. It is most important we encourage one another to look to HIM who can change us. He is showing us the sin that needs to be released and let go. He is our all and main priority.

Commitment.
In life God entrusts each of us with certain trials. They are what help us become more and more like Him. They are what is given us as an honor quite honestly because we get to share in the sufferings of Christ. God does major work in these times. In this I can see that I have a renewed passion to help Hannah in her areas of struggle with Autism. Thankfully she is very high functioning to the point that unless you have a trained eye and discerning heart you will most likely miss it. However, in these trials I see her difficulties more clearly and have a renewed passion to help her through them. It is God's grace to let us go through these times of unpredictability now when she is under our care to help her learn how to handle it in a healthy way. It is hard but we are a team and work to help her.

Also, I see the work that is needed with little man. He has certain delays and issues that have become more exposed while being here but I also have a renewed passion to help him become the best young man he can become. God helps my heart see and discern. I am thankful for that.

I also have been able to see just how responsible my oldest is. How she has taken charge in a good way and been so helpful. I am really glad for her maturity in Christ and how she desires to be all God wants her to be.

My husband too I see where I am failing as a wife to him and want to be more of what he needs. Praying I will not be as worn out dealing with all these needs so I have time for him as well.  He cannot be last priority on my list.

Friends.
There are true and amazing people that God puts in your life to encourage, pray, and love on you. I am so thankful for all of them. So thankful that I would have a house to stay at or two or three if we did not have insurance. Meals provided if we did not have insurance. So many things that friends do because they care for you. I am so thankful for that and it is in trials you see this more clearly.

Thoughts on 2011, Autism, Chronic Illness, and Challenges

I cannot say I am sad to see 2011 go. It was a year of great challenges for us. However, God has renewed my vision for those in the midst of suffering. I am even more on fire to encourage those who are hurting or struggling in life. I can truly say God is enough. He has sustained us in this very rough year. He has given us peace in all things. We are truly grateful and stronger for the trials and struggles we have sustained.

Last Christmas we started the journey of discovery that would turn out to be our daughter having Asperger's syndrome which is a type of autism. She is amazingly gifted but we were challenged by many things with her. When we finally understood why she was being challenged we were able to start researching and move forward.

Also, this year my Lyme disease that has been under control for several years came roaring forward again. I found out that I will probably have this for life but there are things we can do to keep it under control. I am trusting God for His healing in it though. Whether He takes it fully away or for a time or never I do trust. He is teaching me to be strong in weakness. It is in my weakness that He is stronger in me. I am learning to be content with that.

Challenges consist of our entire family adjusting to these conditions. It is difficult to live in a family where persistent struggle is the way of life. We have dealt with grieving the loss of dreams, normalcy, control, and anger. We are learning to love one another well. We are being schooled in compassion and long suffering. We are growing closer together through it. We can say that though it was a year marked with much struggle, God has truly been enough and our saving grace to endure it all and learn to live fully the adventure of it all. We can do all things through Him. Truly we can. So welcome 2012. We look forward to the adventure. Hopefully marked with more joy and hope.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.~ Jeremiah 29:11

Selah

Pondering the Psalms has been such a beneficial thing for me to do. I am renewing my mind through His word. I have been on the journey for several months now. I have learned that my emotions are okay. They are God given. Believing feelings is not okay always, they deceive. No matter what is going on, God is faithful and His love remains unchanged. So today I hit Psalm 100 (NLT) and I just want to pause and reflect on it.

¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

I often ponder this, when I am pondering about God, the cross, His love, does it make me want to shout in awe? Or does it become a dull truth to me?

² Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.

Is this how I approach Him? Or do I just go through the motions?

 ³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Do I trust He made me, I am His securely, I find rest in Him? Or do I think I am god, I need to make my own security, fretting the entire time?

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Do I come to Him with thanksgiving and praise in all things? Or do I find myself grumbling and complaining not able to trust?

 ⁵ For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Do I truly believe this? That everything allowed through His hands is good? That He is faithful to my children and children's children and beyond? Or do I think I know best and fight Him in unbelief?

Lord, this is my prayer today. May I be all these things this Psalm reflects. It is wonderful to pray Your word back to You. Thank You for Your word, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for the cross.

Temptation to be Hard and Fake

God desires complete honesty with us. He hated the pretense of the Pharisees. That was the one thing He continually called out in front of others. I desire to be authentic in all I do. I desire to be completely honest with Him. Also in turn I want to be completely honest with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lately I have been struggling. It is my heart. It is filled with ugly. I have been reminded from listening to Dee Brestin on Moody Radio of this and my journey through the Psalms. I think I just have been stuck. I have not wanted to really deal with the hard things that life has dealt me recently. So I sit in denial.

God and I discuss many things but I hold these things back. I pretend they are not there. This is not healthy and hurts our relationship. He never forces me. He is gentle. But now I need to confess. I hate that I have to continually deal with migraines and pain. I hate that I struggle with fear that my daughter will never be okay to live on her own one day. I hate that these things limit us from many things I would like us to do. I hate that I don't deal well with my oldest daughter in the struggle of having a sister who is different. I hate that I treat my husband poorly because I want to take it out on someone. These things are all wrong.

Oh Lord save me and rescue me. I have this big ball of yuck and my only chance for freedom from the engulfing chains are your mercy and grace. Lord save me from myself. Help me accept the things that are hard with trust. Help me to give them to you in your care for me and remember I am not alone. Help me to be honest. I am beaten and bruised by the enemies lies and the lies I tell myself. I want to be whole. I want to be real. I want all of YOU and nothing more. Hold my heart secure in this position of wholeness. Oh Lord to behold You is the most beautiful thing. This is all I want. This is how I am prepared to walk this hard road with trust. You are my strength, rock and shield. You are my guide and my front and rear guard. You hold me securely in your right hand. Thank you.

Dealing With Special Needs and Masks

Honestly those two words "special needs" really are quite comical to me. I think it would be a lie if someone claimed to have no "special needs" all together. I would always apologize to people for mine because I wanted them to know up front that I could be a bit high maintenance. It just cuts to the core of me for them. Then no problems if I was just a bit much for them. No worries. It gives them a chance to run.

Now I am realizing that I am wanting to do the same thing for my children. I worry that others will run when they discover their "special needs." Whether it is being high maintenance, overly excited, or whatever happens that day in public, I just want people to love them for them. I do not want them to feel the need to change in order to fit in. I want then to feel free to be who they were created to be, quirks and all.

I feel so tired of seeing so many people wearing masks. They tend to want to be something they are not in order to fit in. That must be very weary. I must remind myself of this because when I start becoming weary it is probably because I am trying to put some sort of mask on myself. I think most of us do it. However, I am saying now let's start a trend. No more masks. Let's just be who God created us to be so we can freely love people in that way. The only way we can because He created us unique. A simple truth but it is only now that I am truly beginning to understand it and fully embrace it.

God's Power Seen in the Snow

"God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.“He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power."
~Job 37:5-7 NLT

Saw these verses posted on a Facebook friends post. Love them because we did get to see God's power not once but twice in the amazing amounts of snow He let fall. I know people are wanting to get back to work and even being obsessive about it but the verse clearly states that God does this so that everyone stops working so we can take in His greatness. If only we all could learn to just be still and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).

So after being snowed in and trapped inside ceasing to work for two entire weeks in less than a month I sit reflective and thankful. I am in awe of our mighty God and what He does. I saw miracles worked in my own home during this time but those things won't happen until we stop the noise and take time to just see as He would have us see things. What kind of things did you see? Or have you seen in these types of situations?

Some Nice Healing Taking Place

Many of you have read my post about taking a break from Facebook and Twitter. If you have not you can find it here. This is what God has been doing:
1-He has shown me from where this deep need for approval is rooted.
2-He has shown me that He is the only one from whom we need approval.
3-He has shown me He is the One and Only who grows our ministries.
4-He has given me great insight from an amazing mentor.
5-In addition to the unhealthy approval need, He has shown me how much time I waste on social media. There is a balance and He is teaching me to find it.
6-He has shown me that my online presence does matter and I need to use it for His glory alone.
7-He has reminded me to keep my eyes on Him.
8-He has reminded me that Facebook and Twitter are awesome opportunities to pray for others.

Okay so now I have cleaned some things up and will be able to return soon I am sure. I love how God shows us these things in our hearts that are not pleasing to Him yet by the work of the Holy Spirit He removes them. How by the blood of the Cross in Christ we are completely approved by Him and that is all that matters.

It has been only a few days away so far but I have enjoyed catching up on blog reading, spending more time with my family, and sinking deep into His word. Now I need to be certain I hear Him clearly on my time to return. Unfortunately when I do things like this I am super hard on myself and where God may have released me to go back on I will be harder on myself than needed. Please pray for me in this. Also there are a few things I just need to clean up to make it a more safe environment.

Cabin Deja vu - Snowed in Again

Today we got snowed in again in the south. I am beginning to wonder what all this global warming talk nonsense is all about. Clearly we keep getting snow. Pretty comical. Today it was okay to be snowed in because we are in our home. We have plenty to sustain us until it clears up. Schools have been cancelled for tomorrow as well so I am not sure how long this will last.

We have a driveway that would be a great luge track. It is completely covered and iced. We had 8 inches of snow today. Wow! We are not those folks who go out and buy a sled for a few days a year. We make big slabs of wood and trash can lids work for this. I guess we have creatively adapted to our current environment.

However, I am feeling tempted to move further south. This amount of snow is more than enough for me. It is fun for a bit but this much is just overrated.

But, I am thankful...
1-We get some great time with the family.
2-We are creating snow memories (which I was afraid the kids would miss out on since we moved south).
3-We have power.
4-We have food.
5-We are in an environment where we have what we need.

Memory Work Monday

So excited to tell you all that I have done well on my verses from last week by the grace of God!! I do keep tripping up on my Philippians because I switched from NIV to ESV. But I will get it as I practice. :)

This week I will work on Philippians 1:7-11
 ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
 ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I love how Paul prays. So much we can glean from him.

Now, since my next memory verse for SSMT is not due til 1/15 I will just keep meditating on Phil. 4:29. It has helped me greatly with the words I speak this week. I love how God's word renews our minds and has the power to change us.

Here are some verses I am writing down concerning my struggle with the need for approval. Hoping to burn them into my brain and heart as well.

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ~2 Timothy 2:15
(Look closely to who we are to present ourselves too) GOD! Not man. :)

⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4
(Look closely at who we are to please) GOD! Not man. :)

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. ~2 Corinthians 10:18
(Look closely at who is the one who does the commending) God! Not man. :)

Unexpected Blessings

I am so blessed to share my health journey/testimony with the Lord over at Lisa Shaw's site today. She is an amazing woman of God, a rare blessing that I thank God for continually. Go over and see it here.

Again, words I myself needed to hear! Funny how God brings our words back to us. He is so good like that. I really needed to hear them because I had another flare up with this horrible face infection. Been fighting it for a year now. It seems I need another two months of antibiotics to treat it. Yet I will find the joy in it. God always has a purpose. I will trust and stand firm as I deal with this. It is a crazy privilege to share in His sufferings, a honor really. Lord, change me and help me see it this way.

Going off Facebook and Twitter

Hey all. God has been dealing with a heart issue of mine. It is the need for approval. It is really at its worst online. Like, "why didn't anyone comment on this?" or "Why does so and so talk with them so often and not me?" or "Why am I following this person and they don't follow me back?" Petty and stupid stuff. It is something that has taken root in my heart and Satan is happy to use it to mess with my mind continually.  I think the only solution at this point is to take a break from social media.

It is an obedience step and I am not sure how long it will go on but I am listening to Him. I want my full joy to come from Him alone. Not from me. Not from what He can give me. Just from Him alone. I will be updating you all about my journey on the blog. This is just a place for me to be very real about it and take seriously the sin that has found its way into my heart.

With that said I know there is a balance in this and I hope to find it. It is fine for people to give you a word of encouragement or compliment something that you have done. We just need to keep Christ in the center of this knowing anything that we have done is because of Him.

Now I am going to be doing a Bible study online at www.deebrestin.com/blog (join me) dealing with this and have a woman's group that I will be accountable to in the journey here. I will be focusing on saturating God's word in my heart. I will spend time beholding Him. Please pray for a breakthrough here. AND let me know how I can use this time to lift you before our Father.

Please Check Out A Woman Inspired's New Website

This is just too good to pass by. I love this women's ministry site so very much! Check out their new make over here. What a wonderful job they have done!!

Featured now are several 31 days of inspiration in different areas we all need to focus on in our lives. Pick one and follow you will not be disappointed. I cannot even tell you how much I love each of these beautiful, godly women from the bottom of my heart. They shine Jesus so very beautifully.

Topics of focus are:
31 days of Online Ministry
31 days of Prayer
31 days of Intentional Parenting
31 days of Social Media
31 days of Praise
31 days of Encouragement
31 days of Wordpress

Such good stuff. Check it all out. AND.....
So excited about the Get Revived Conference in April 2011. It is completely free and online. I have the amazing honor of speaking alongside some other wonderful women you will not want to miss. Love to you all and cannot wait to see all God is going to do through this ministry.

Family Goals, Scripture Memory and My First Test

This year we are going to pursue Christ likeness together in the areas we see in each other that need it the most. It will promote encouragement and family accountability. I am so excited about this. Especially since we are doing it together. We came up with this idea as we were stuck in the cabin in the mountains.

So here is my verse. I am also memorizes along with wonderful ladies at lproof.org site. Siesta Memory Scripture Team begins so go on over if you want to participate. We memorize 2 verses a month.

^"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

Now in the process of memorizing it is not enough to just sit as that. We want to see how we can really apply these verses to our lives to promote change. Little would I know when I picked this verse that our family has just been attacked and slandered by someone! But I am going to keep Ephesians 4:29 right in the front of my mind. There is nothing I can say to this that would be good for building up or give grace so in this case I am just going to keep my mouth shut trusting God in it.

Excited to see all that God has in store as we store up His word in our hearts. Would love to hear from you if you are doing anything similar.

Praising God for the Window - What's Happening Now in Gatlinburg

I am just amazed! You have to read this story about Gatlinburg if you have been following our adventure.
http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/149925/2/Gatlinburg-PD-advising-drivers-to-stay-off-roads-this-morning?utm_source=twitterfeed

If we didn't take that small window yesterday we would have been stuck!!! Probably til the end of year atleast. So overflowing with thankfulness to be off the mountain. So thankful!

Please continue to pray for those stuck up there. They are still there. Don't forget.

Super Speedy Exit from the Mountain

I want you to picture a good roller coaster, one that you really need to be strapped into. The track takes you up and down really steep, up and down then twists in crazy ways on you. It is suppose to be fun right? However if you like that sort of thing you know that you are mostly safe. The track keeps the car on the ride well. You are strapped in well. No worries, all fun.

These coasters must have gotten their inspiration from these roads we were on. They were not only steep but there was one complete 90 degree turn. I really wish I had a good picture to demonstrate this. In the best conditions on them I have to close my eyes. There are drop off edges to these as well. No guard rails for safety. Some serious danger if not handled carefully.

We got word yesterday that a guy named Junior was hired to plow these roads. The cabin owners pay $180.00 a year for specific road maintenance which includes snow. Snow happens on the mountains sometimes in Tennessee. This drop of snow which was about a foot was not expected by anyone, even the weather people.

The situation could have been avoided if the plow trucks were out right away keeping the roads clear but because they waited so long to hire someone (because the other contract guys plow broke and he just left the area) the roads got worse and froze over. They were sheets of ice. 32 vehicles tried to get off the mountain but were ditched because of the conditions. Injuries occurred that did not need too if it was tended too like it should have been immediately.

Back to yesterday. Junior took his job seriously. Right away all day he worked on chopping the ice on the roads then had guys behind his work salting it. Then he was going back after that sat for a bit to chop it more. The temp warmed up enough to be above freezing. The roads were looking more like slush making if safer and possibly passable. However, we do not have a four wheel drive but instead a small car.

Word came that the weather was going to be coming in as freezing rain that evening and the day following. That would mean a few more days stuck. So we had a small window to chance getting down. Would the roads be okay on those treacherous drops and twists to make it off safely? I cannot imagine the amount of pressure on my husband to make this decision.

We knew this was a small window of opportunity and decided to do it. We speed packed the car, prayed, and in faith took off. We have never been more scared in our lives. It was quite a bit of slush but still some ice. One the road with the 90 degree turn and twist which had a drop and no guard rails we found ourselves sliding. Then up a hill we almost did not make it because we could not get the traction but finally it came. It was such a dangerous thing but we made it. We are so thankful for God keeping us safe. We know He was watching and guiding us down. We have never been more thankful to be home.

So roller coasters may be fun on the track when safe but they are not fun when they are icy roads with the opportunity of fatal injury. So much to be thankful for.

Thankfulness Journal While Being Stuck

No matter how nice the place is you are stuck in, you still are stuck. Being stuck has a way of making you feel claustrophobic and weary. Your mind continually wars with you. We are not in the worst of situations because we do have each other, health, electricity, shelter, tons of entertainment, heat, and food. All the things and more we need to survive.

Still the fact is we are stuck. No option to leave this place and that is what wears on you. Sunday morning is when we were suppose to leave. Now it is 3 days later. Very wearing. Unless you are in this situation it is probably very hard to really understand it. We just want to return to our normal life at home. So for my own therapy I am going to make a list of things I am thankful for. That is the only way to win this war of the mind.

1. We do have what we need. We are thankful for that. We were thinking of putting some of our Survivor Man or Man vs. Wild skills in place for food but we opted to take the chained taxi instead.

2. The chained taxi was price gouged. The thankful part is that we got cash in the amount it took to take the taxi for Christmas. Otherwise we do not carry cash.

3. We are getting to see that there are truly good people who care for one another here. Though we are from all over the country there is still a love for each other. People are sharing and kind.

4. A plow finally came through last night. The sun has not risen brightly today. Ice still packed on roads. No salt down. Thankful that finally at least a plow came through.

5. We are creating lasting memories. We are together and seeing God in many things. He is our constant Sustainer.

6. As I type just got word that salt trucks are now out. Good news.

7. God is showing up as Provider. Though we almost ran out of food He has stretched it and provided it through many means.

8. God is showing up as Healer. I experienced one of the worst migraines ever up here. Probably stress and bright lights of the sun off the snow. It made me severely ill but God healed. He is also healing broken things in our family. Things probably ignored or not even seen in normal situation.

9. We are learning the discipline of self-control. I think I may have lost a little weight here. But being mostly sedentary may prove that wrong.

10. We are learning to have fun together and enjoy each other. This is good because it could go the other way being in such tight quarters.

It boils down to seeing God in the center of it all. He knew this was going to take place. He is not surprised. He continually provides for all our needs. We have been so conditioned to be spoiled. Having our needs should be sufficient. Here it is. We can really live on less than what we think we can.

Original Christmas Plan

It is so funny to me that my article about our plans for this Christmas trip and making memories posted on Heart of the Matter and I read it today. I so needed to read my article and the perspective that God gave me then about this trip. Words needed to be heard to myself written much earlier by myself. LOVE how God works that way. He is so amazing to remind us of things that are important. Go check it out here.

Our Cabin Christmas

We took a trip to the Smokey Mountains with the hopes of having a fun Christmas time together as a family. Making memories and bonding. Well that is exactly what we got! Just not in the way we planned or imagined.

We have been challenged in some really good ways this trip. It started as a three day trip. We were to leave returning home the day after Christmas. As I type this (Tuesday am) we are still stuck in this cabin. It is a really nice cabin. But we are starting to get a good feel for what cabin fever is. We are so ready to be out.

When you plan a 3 day cabin trip you plan the food to last that long. You want to leave with the hopes of bringing nothing back. Or atleast that is the way I plan. Unfortunately we got snowed in. We had a little food left but not enough for 3 more days. Again, I am thankful we had something, but it was a test of our survival skills. It took a toll on all of us. It still is.

We have been seeing good in this. God is showing us His provisions. A family came up right before this happenned so they were well stocked with food. Our neighbor got food from them and came over to share it with us.

So people have tried to get off the mountain but cars are turned sideways and upside down in the ditches. This is the worse snow Gatlinburg has seen in quite a while. The temperatures are not warm enough to melt the snow and ice. The police have closed the road coming up to us so no one can come up or down unless they have chains on their tires.

A taxi service started with those requirements. Yesterday Tony got the chance to speed shot for some supplies...What is absolute? That is what he had to decide unknowing how long we are stuck here. Oh and the taxi service, it is $50 down the mountain and $50 back up. Nice, right?

Tony was able to get us restocked with some food. Our morale is up. We have plenty of games and heat and electricity. That is a blessing for sure. But we are all ready to be in our own home. We are making memories for sure. Cannot wait to just be home.

Make a Difference this Season by Giving the Gift of Clean Water

My friends at Water Missions International came up with a great idea for this holiday--giving the gift of clean water. It is simple and easy enough and anyone can do it. So let's turn black Friday blue and give the gift to someone in need. What a great way to refresh someones soul by meeting the need they have physically.

Did you know that for only $10.00 you can give the gift of clean water to one person? That is amazing! Only $10.00. So this is my goal this season, From now until Christmas, the next 30 days, I am going to save all the money I would normally spend on soft drinks, juices, and yes STARBUCKS and give it for the gift of clean water. For the cost of my two mocha's a person could have clean water. Now that is a sacrifice worth making. (Now if you see me at SB it is only because I have a gift card no spending my own because it goes for clean water.)

I am pulling the kids into this by the sacrifice of soft drinks. I know that will make them feel excited to be a part and learn to sacrifice as well.  I am excited.

Will you join me? Please check out my friends at Water Missions HERE.

The October T.V. Fast Update

We are six days into this T.V. fast. Let me clarify for fairness we still have some media going here and there. The children can earn a show to watch (with no commercials) if they earn it but not everyday. We can watch a movie together as a family time option if we chose this.

My husband and I are limiting our computer time in this fast. Basically we are putting priorities back in order and learning to reconnect as family. We are learning to do more things together and really enjoy one another. We have some games we like playing, activities we like to do, and talk more. We didn't watch a ton of T.V. in the first place but did let it pour into us. There is alot of garbage on T.V. and as we let it pour into our home is starts to seep into our hearts. When those things are in our hearts that is not good. It is failing to guard our hearts like the Bible challenges us to do. So know we are guarding our hearts.

So far I have seen such progress. We are detoxing I can tell because of some of the things that come out of our mouths. That attitude of entitlement that grieves me in my children is fading. Rebellion is fading as well. We are guarding hearts from these things going in. When only good things go in then only good things come out. I have been able to experience more of their creativity. They have time to do things they love to do instead of just flipping on the T.V. So far so good and I am so blessed to be doing this. Will keep you posted on how it continues.