Leason Learned?

So I have been debating the last two days whether I wanted to share this story or not. I finally came to the conclusion that you all have gotten to know me by now and will see the story for what it is worth.
Here it goes, I would not consider myself an angry person, but when it comes to parenting I have been known to raise my voice a time or two. A few nights ago we were at the dinner table the kids were done eating and Ryan and I were just sitting there talking over the day. Morgan was sitting at the table listening intently to our grownup conversation about who knows what. Brandan had decided that he needed something upstairs, so off he went to his room. A few minutes later I hear, "Mommy, I had a big potty accident." I jump out of my chair and start running up the stairs as I am yelling loudly, " YOU KNOW BETTER, GET IN YOUR ROOM." He is by this time crying loudly, "no spanking mommy." (for the record he has NEVER gotten a spanking for having a potty accident). I clean him up and we talk about the problem and we are happy again.
The evening goes on and Ryan says, "I need to tell you something, while we were downstairs when you were changing Brandan after his accident Morgan said that when she becomes a Mommy she will not yell at her kids when they have accidents. As tears come to my eyes, I say, "OH NO."
I felt horrible!!!!!!!!!
Then it dawned on me, I could use this as a great lesson. (I think it is the home school coming out of me, that everything is a lesson, right Leslie?)
I called Morgan in and asked her if she was upset with my reaction to Brandan. She said yes. I explained to her that I shouldn't of yelled at Brandan, but I already apologized to him. I then reminded her of all the times that she has yelled at her brother. I asked her to think about how angry she was and how she yelled. So, next time you get angry you remember how you felt when Mommy yelled at Brandan. The point was well taken and she told me she wouldn't yell any more at him.
That lesson lasted at least an hour before she yelled again.

Breaking Free

Many of you already know that I am doing the study Breaking Free. I have committed with three of my wonderful friends to dive into this intense study by Beth Moore. When we first started the book I was excited to see what areas in my life are holding me captive. Basically the study reveals what areas are keeping you captive from experncing the life the Lord has in store for you. I had no idea what this book was going to show me ,but I was up for the challenge. Let me tell you I am only in week three and it has revealed more to me than any other study I have done over the years. Ryan and I heard a pastor speak one time and he said nine out of ten people do not live a fulfilled life. I believe that. I can say I have spent most of my Christian life not living the fulfilled life that God desires from me. Since moving to Oregon God has slowly revealed to me that He wants so much more of me than I have ever given to Him before. While doing the study this week, I have learned one of my huge captivities is unbelief. This is horrible to admit, but it is very true. I believe in God, but I do not always have the belief that He has my life in control. This goes with my personality. My CONTROLLING personality. God does not want me to only believe in him, but to let go of my control and give Him all of my life. To allow Him to control everything in my life, even if I don't understand. To have the belief that if I believe in what He has in store for me than His purpose for my life will be fulfilled. Until I get rid of this area of captivity I will not be able to serve the Lord and have the fulfillment of the Lord.
This revelation is so freeing. I bet that is the reason Beth Moore named the book Breaking Free.

Easter

Thank you Lord for dying for my sins and raising again. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!! We had a wonderful Easter. God truly blessed us by some friends inviting us to their wonderful home. It was so wonderful to spend the day with a family that understood the importance of the day.

VACATION

How can you describe the best vacation ever? I guess that is the way you do, we just got home from the best vacation ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We enjoyed our family so much. Ryan and I were able to catch up with some old friends. We even snuck away for a night. The weather was a perfect 80 degrees. So today, I am back to reality of MAJOR laundry and house cleaning. I will write more about the perfect week later.

THE HUGE FISH

Friday night Ryan said how about I take tomorrow off and we go over to the coast for the day. I of course said,"AWESOME." SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, he had the idea that we would go to the fish Aquarium. That sounds like fun, but I must be able to hit the outlets on our way out. The plan was perfect and we were off for a fun day.
We had an awesome time! The kids were on their best behavior.
Brandan was so cute when he saw this huge octopus. He yelled HUGE FISH. It was pretty funny.
What a fun filled day for the McNally family.

Starbucks

You really can't get any cuter than this story I am about to tell;
Yesterday Ryan had to work after church, so I was in for a long day. I decided after nap time we would go on a trip to our favorite place Target. Morgan had been dying to spend her money and Target is always a good place to kill some time. Morgan grabbed her purse and Brandan grabbed is wallet and we were off for our shopping trip. As we were pulling out of the driveway I said, "Brandan would you like to buy mommy a coffee today?" Of course I thought he would say no because I would take some of his dollars. He said, " I WOULD LOVE TO MOMMY." These words came out of my little guys mouth. I still wasn't sure that he got the concept so I pulled up to the drive through and ordered my non fat sugar free vanilla latte. When I got up to the window Brandan said, "here you go mommy." He pulled out five dollars from his army wallet and gave it to me. How cute is that? I got my coffee and pulled over to the parking lot and got out of the car and gave him the HUGEST hug ever. It was so awesome.

Dreams

What do your dreams mean? Almost every night I have a dream and in the morning I wake up and can remember every detail of what occurred in the dream. Most people have told me they think they have dreams, but they can't always remember them. I have also had people tell me they never have dreams. Well, I do have lots of dreams and I always remember them. My dreams usually go with the day that I have had.
Last night I had a very disturbing dream. The dream started out that I was waiting for a train at the train station. While I was waiting I started talking to the people around me. I started sharing my faith and the way the Lord had been working in my life. All the sudden the people turned into people I knew and they started telling me that they didn't see that this work was happening in my life. They were telling me that they didn't see any growth in me and that I was kidding myself that my relationship with the Lord was as close as I thought it was.
WOW!!!!! I woke up and just started praying. I really felt that God wanted me to have that dream. Not that he wanted me to feel bad about where my walk is with Him, but that He wanted me to make sure that I am constantly standing up for Him in all I do.
One of my friends wrote about how people are having to make major decisions to follow the Lord. Everyday people are killed because of their choice to make the Lord first in their lives. I want to be like that. To stand up for my faith. To live everyday filled with the Lord and to do His work on earth.