"I Have Seen The Lord!"

      Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!

As I reflect upon the last few weeks leading up to Easter, I'm reminded of a sweet story in John chapter 20.  Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb weeping, for the stone had been rolled away and she was looking into an empty tomb.  Not knowing that Jesus was indeed alive and standing nearby, and thinking it was the gardener speaking to her, Jesus asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?"  She had been looking for the very man whom was speaking to her.

Mary was instructed to go and tell the disciples the news that Jesus had been raised from the dead and that He was Alive!

When I was reading this passage outloud in Women's Bible Study this past week, I was litterally brought to tears.  God chose a woman to be one of the first to see Jesus after His resurrection and was told to go and share the news!  I know I've read or heard these stories for years and years, but Golly Gee, I too have seen the Lord.

Also, the kids and I have been reading "Darkest Night/Brightest Day" by Marty Machowski.  It is a Family Devotional for the Easter Season, for the last two weeks.  Multiple time I've been moved with such emotion acknowledging that God sent His only son to die on the cross for my/our sins that we can be saved.  And that He rose from the dead...conquring death on our behalf.

I know that the song "Sunday's Coming" by Phil Wickham has played a major roll in how I now see the events of the cross and tomb with new eyes.  It has become so much more personal.

I beg you to check out the links above to the Devotional, and Song.  Trust the Lord, and Believe!  He has come to seek and save the lost. The bible says in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave is ONE & ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish by have everlasting life."

As time goes on our holiday traditions tend to shift.  Only 4 of my 8 children and 6 of the 16 Rosinbaum grandchildren were able to participate in majority of the afternoon activities.  We have learned that flexibilty is key!  Several older grandkids came by afterward and some of the easter bags this year will have to be mailed, but nontheless...we love them all!  A special thank you to mom and dad for always opening up your home for mess making, loud games, and fun time.  Until next year! - Misty Dupree

Griffin, Phoenix, and a man called Wonder

Chance meetings some may call them.  I like to call them God moments.  God knows what you need, when you need it, and has pre-orchestrated the perfect meeting of people to impact your life.

Allowing moments in time to forever change your life takes practice. I do not take meeting people lightly.  I’m often left in wonder and awe at the people that I’m allowed to meet and interact with.  I often wonder why I end up where I do.  I wonder why I’m up at 2:00am writing this blog post.  All I can say is that I’m up writing so the person who needs to hear what I have to say will be able to read it when the time comes.  Maybe I’m solely writing for myself?  Maybe I’m writing for you?  Maybe I’m just bored? Or fighting sleep?  Either way…here I sit with a man I call Wonder.

I WONDER why I was in a random barber shop back in 2021, and now I look up to and admire someone I never would have met otherwise?

I WONDER why I met a man from Florida, in Arkansas, who has since changed my life forever; joining me on an adventure out of poverty and into freedom?

I WONDER why I ran into the store that night for a gallon of milk?  I reconnected with an old acquaintance, going through tough times, and have since become best friends with someone who is 10 years younger than me.

I WONDER how it was possible that my electricity had been cut off that morning, and by the afternoon I was able to be on my knees, sobbing in the garage, on a pile of wood, praising the Lord for HIS GOODNESS & FAITHFULNESS.

I WONDER why after cleaning up after a long day of work at the house, I decided to check my messages?  An hour later, I find myself watching fireworks with a new friend; learning more about myself than I ever anticipated.

I WONDER why I chose to watch Griffin and Phoenix this evening.  Maybe it was to remind myself that life is short.  If you aren’t living, you're dying.  Make the most of every opportunity the Lord gives you.  

Here’s to Griffin & Phoenix - Dupree version! (p.s. You should watch this movie)

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I had been praying for answers for far too long.  Waiting and wondering.  However, this time was different.  I

wasn’t praying alone.  I had others praying alongside me - my kids.

As most of you know, my life took an unexpected turn just 6 months ago when I lost over ½ my income.  After 4 long years of financial uncertainty, I had finally gotten out of the red, into the black, and had a nice budget going.  Things were looking up and looking pretty good.  Even my credit score was starting to look good again!  

Hard times like these make me WONDER.  Why me, Lord?  Again, Lord?  I can’t get ahead.  I do not make enough $ to pay even a portion of my bills.  What should I do?  I already work 40 hours.  I can’t fathom working a second job.  I’m already exhausted.  I can’t do this alone.  My kids need me more than I need the $.  I trust you Lord. 

But do I really trust HIM?

I was once again reminded of a conversation I had with the Lord back in October of 2018. God reassured me that Medical Bag Tags would one day provide for my kids and I (not my husband, kids, and me) just the kids and I.  I found this odd as I was still married at the time, and although times were tough, divorce had never been in my vocabulary, I was going to fight for my marriage.  I fought long and hard, and lost…or did I win?!

Being a single mom has certainly been rather challenging.  I’ve had highs, lows, wins, losses, and everything in between.  I will say the last 4 years I have been on a Faith & Trust roller-coaster with the Lord.  

“Yes, Lord, I trust you. BUT…this…that…and…”

“Ok, Yes, Lord, I trust you…BUT…did you forget that…”

“Yes, Lord, I trust you…I have FAITH that it will all work out.”

About that day in the garage.  When I need some serious God time, I cue up the best of the 90’s Christian artists.  4-Him, FFH, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, etc. Of course the first song that plays is, “I get on my knees” by Jaci V. I immediately drop to my knees.

🎵 “'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain, how to survive.

I get on my knees, I get on my knees.  There I am before the love that changes me.
See I don't know how, but there's power when I'm on my knees” 🎵

As many times as I’ve listened to that song, never once have I heard a little girl at the end say Ecclesiastes (Whatever verse chapter and verse she said - don’t remember).  You know as soon as I got up from my knees I headed straight to the book of Ecclesiastes.

You see, I have been holding on to and working Medical Bag Tags for 7 years now.  I’ve worked it through the thick and thin, during the highs, and lows, early morning, and late into the evenings.  This along with many different jobs, running a household of large scale, averaging little to no sleep, running on empty has been the way of my life…I’m tired of chasing the $.  Some might find it "coincidental” that the Lord brought me to Ecclesiastes. But that afternoon, I knew differently…my prayers had been answered.  I now had a very clear directive from the Lord.  Right way in verses 2&3, “Meaningless!  Meaningless!” says the teacher.  Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.  What do people gain for all their labors at which they toil under the sun?”

Absolutely nothing.  It’s all meaningless.  I’m wasting my time and energy chasing the wrong things.  I need to be chasing my calling.  Doing what I am called to do and leaving the rest to the Lord. 

Sometime years ago a couple in my SS class told a story of how the Lord carried them through a two-year jobless season, and not once did they miss a payment.  That’s the trust I want to have in the Lord.  I will TRUST HIM. I am human, I am scared, BUT GOD IS BIGGER.  I pray that the kids will see how the Lord provides supernaturally and their faith and trust in HIM will continue to grow.

It’s go time…July 31st will be my last day working outside my home.  August 1st, I’m all in Medical Bag Tags.

Remember that man from Florida?  The one "joining me on an adventure out of poverty and into freedom?" Guess what?  God has been using him in my life in mighty ways since Feb - in preparation for this very time. 

Feb is when I lost my income…Feb is when I met this man…this man is not only an angel, but he is a Business Consultant.  Since Feb, I’ve spent hours and hours writing business plans, marketing plans, working numbers, reworked numbers, continuing to pitch media, reading books, writing a pitch deck summary, investment strategies, and talking to people like manufacturers, accounting software folks, business mentors, and more.  I’ve emailed one-on-one with best-selling authors, their right hand gurus, and their go to helpers too! Looking back it's hard to believe what all I've been able to accomplish with some expert guidance.

If you skip down to Ecclesiastes 3:11 you read,

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet, no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

And this is why I WONDER. No one can FATHOM what God has done…or is doing.  

I must TRUST. I must OBEY.

God is on the MOVE! Stay tuned for more blog posts to come!

Housing Update

 

Housing Update

        Greetings from the land of the uncertain and unknown.  This is where Christ keeps me on my toes, grows my faith, and asks me to do hard things.  Sometimes VERY HARD THINGS.  And sometimes you have no clue why He asks something of you, but until you obey, you have a constant unsettling in your heart.

        The amount of things we as a family have had to do on faith these last few months is crazy!  We have made some very, brave, bold, and life-altering decisions for our family.  We've prayed, sought counsel, prayed more, trusted, and believed.  With the help of my children, we have purchased a 2nd vehicle, broken up with Habitat for Humanity, and turned down an opportunity for a rental home.  We have been blessed with food on our tables, $ for bills, a couple of roofs over our heads, and the financial means to fix our current van which was in the shop.

        There is much more I would love to say, but I am choosing to keep quiet to not shame/put down or throw Habitat under the bus publicly.  Please understand that this decision did not come lightly for our family.  I know that several of our friends and family have helped us financially in the past on our journey to our new home and it was greatly appreciated.  I want to say that if you would like me to repay you for your generosity, I'll be happy to, however, know that if not, your gifts will be put towards helping us get ahead and out of the cycle of uncertainty.  I am pushing forward this year with sacrifice, intentionality, and drive.  I am continuing to pursue real estate and create with my CO2 laser, embroidery machine, and sewing machine.  If you need to buy/sell a property (home or land) please consider using me as your agent.  If you need customized gifts I'm your girl as well.  It is our goal to be in our own home by the end of 2024.  Please continue to pray for our family as we seek the Lord's will and trust HIM for the timing.

Misty Dupree

Haggai the Prophet & Unexpected Lessons

        

    To say I've been in a very unhappy, tearful, deep funk lately is a HUGE understatement.  There is a lot that I do not understand about my current situation.  There are many days I cry throughout the day wondering what I've done wrong?  Am I missing something?  Am I following Christ or my own selfish desires?  I sometimes cry myself to sleep as well.  Throughout all the trials of the last few months & years, one thing has remained strong...I have a deep desire to hear from the Lord.  Even when I hear from the Lord, others question my choices or decisions based on the word the Lord has laid upon my heart.  It is not easy to follow Christ.  You have to make daily & even sometimes hourly sacrifices to do what is not always the popular thing.

    There are days that I feel the Lord has left my side and left me out to dry.  Can it get any worse?  Can one more thing happen that will frustrate me to no end?  Can it all just fall apart before my eyes?  I often wonder WHY?  Why is it that when I choose to follow Christ are there more trials?  I now see why people have a hard time following Christ.  Making a choice to follow HIM takes a lot of faith and trust.

    God's Holy Bible reminds me that I'm not alone.  Whatever I'm going through is nothing compared to what some of the Prophets of the Bible have gone through, or even what Christ Himself had to endure taking on the sins of man and dying on the cross to save our souls.

    Take the prophet Job, EVERYTHING was taken from him.  Only his life was spared...even though it was spared, it still wasn't pretty, he had sores all over.  His own wife said to him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity?  Curse God and die!"  He replied to her, "You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

    Also after all his children had passed away, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

    To be quite honest, I wish I could say that I spend time reading God's word daily.  I wish it was more important to me.  I'm learning to love him more and the desire to hear from him is getting stronger every day.  I get sad when I don't hear from him.  I've had a few dreams/visions over the last few months that woke me in wonder and awe of his goodness and faithfulness.  These visions are so deep and strong that I wake up wanting to stay in the moment.  I lay in bed in awe and just don't want to move from his presence.  He speaks to me mostly through my nighttime visions.  On the outside, it seems like not much has changed, but on the inside, I wrestle daily about the meaning of these visions.  What is the takeaway?  What am I to learn from them?  What is next for me?  They have all been very similar to some degree, and are all building up to something great.  I'm always fighting off a "satanic figure" and standing strong against him; not physically, but in word and song - which I find funny because in real life...I don't sing!

    Today as I sit here in the quiet, pondering life once again, I pray before I open up God's word.  He is so spot on with what he is teaching me.  I opened up to where I had thrown in a piece of paper a few Sundays ago.  Literally just stuck it in my bible so it wasn't floating around my car.  Lo and behold...today's teaching from the Lord was the book of Haggai.  Ever read that book of the bible?  Ever even heard of it?  One of those books hidden away at the end of the Old Testament that gets skipped over.  Guess what?!  It's full of wisdom and great things.

    The biggest and hardest things I've been dealt this past few months have been related to Housing.  I got dealt some heartbreaking news about our upcoming move into our new home...however, I have to trust that this news was no surprise to the Lord.  Just this morning I was talking and crying with my best friend and also some family over this very topic.  I sit down to read...and land in Haggai!  Wouldn't you know, it's all about housing and The Call to Build the House of the Lord and The Promise of the Glory of the NEW HOME.

    What I learned/took away from today's reading is that the "building of the House of the Lord" is my own personal walk with HIM.  My Spiritual Journey!  I'm pretty sure that season of learning more about HIM and learning the truly TRUST HIM in EVERYTHING, EVERY DAY, is the "Building of the house of the Lord".  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, it says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples (house) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

    Until the temple/house of the Lord that I'm to honor him with is healthy, the promise of the Glory of the New Home remains in the distance.  This is a hard pill to swallow.  Could it be that some of the choices I've made in my past are keeping us from moving at this time into our new home?   Possibly?  One choice I made in August of last year has certainly had an effect, but I stand firm on my decision that it was the right decision to make based on the amount of prayer, counsel, and months of wrestling with the Lord on when to do it.  He has 100% followed through and provided every need since that decision was made.  As a human, I sometimes fall back into the "what-ifs" and the "should haves" but God is faithful.  This is the long and hard journey I'm on and I pray it makes me stronger and wiser.  

    This particular verse in Haggai hit me really hard this morning..."How is it that it's the right time for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God's Temple, is in ruins?" - Haggai 1:4.  There is still much growth of my character and development that needs to happen during the last quarter of 2023.  I'm much more certain of this today.  BUT...THERE IS HOPE!  In Chapter 2 of Haggai, verse 6 it tells us "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.'  Verse 9 goes on to say, 'The glory of this present house will be GREATER than the glory of the former house.  This is the hope I cling to that the current housing situation which is less than ideal leads to a GREATER GLORY IN OUR NEW HOME.  'And in this place, I will grant peace, declares the Lord Almighty."

These verses actually tie directly in with the visions I've had as well with the shaking of the heavens and the earth and the sea and land.  I hope to share those with you all some other time.  In true fashion, the Lord is asking me to do some things out of my comfort zone, so you may see or hear my voice on many different platforms...that is very scary to say, but when the Lord speaks, I try to follow.  EEEKKK!!!  You will probably hear me before you see me...at least right now.

Have a great week!  As always, hit me up with questions or comments that you might have.

Misty Dupree

Job worshiped the Lord...

So, about these books I’ve been writing, they are no way near ready for publication, but I need to share a little bit of my heart with you today because it’s so cool how the Lord uses things like this to remind me of his faithfulness.

Book 1 is called “Walk On - A Story of Fear, Faith, & Freedom in Christ.”  Today I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears.  And from today forward, I’ve been charged to “Now Run – Grab the Baton and RUN to Christ.”  (Book 2).

Aug 12^th, 2022.  That was the last day at my part-time job, working outside the home.  I had quit my job with COMPLETE faith and put my FULL trust in the Lord.  I began working from home as a Real Estate Agent and also working more diligently on my Medical Bag Tag launch.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide this, I prayed and prayed; sought counsel; wrestled; prayed more, and ultimately chose the path less traveled.  I took the leap of faith and put my FULL TRUST IN THE LORD. 

The Lord had begun stirring in my heart in March of last year that my trust, although good, wasn’t FULLY IN HIM.  That was probably one of the hardest things to do as a human, but also the easiest to do as a child of God.  To be able to put my whole reliance on HIM as my provider brings so much peace during trials. 

In human terms, you might say I’ve had a year from hell.  I lost my Food Stamps 3 times and ultimately the final time, Medicaid at least once, and the delay of child support payments getting to me between two states has set me back numerous times resulting in nearly $1000 in late fees and banking overdraft fees.  Every month I cry and struggle and my faith is tested.  BUT GOD.  He is so good and always HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  I will always believe that.  NO MATTER WHAT…GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT.  He knows our heart's desires, needs, wants, and even the things that we don’t see.  He sees our tears, our longings, etc.  He is ULTIMATLY in control and I WILL SUBMIT to HIM in everything.  Even when it is hard.

I was reading Job Chapters 1-5 this morning.  In Chapter 1:20, even after losing his worldly possessions and then all his children, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship.”  Job worshiped the Lord after losing everything.

Little did I know that the very act of following God and quitting my job in August 2022 would come back full circle and “bite me in the butt” as the world would say almost exactly 1 year later.  I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  But I will not sway.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears from this morning’s news.  Choosing Self-Employment over working outside the home has been such a blessing for our family.  I’m not saying it’s easy at all but it does come with some perks.  However, when getting a mortgage on a home, self-employment income can only be counted if it is on a Tax Return. So, now we wait…until December when I file my taxes.  Self-employment income MUST be on a Tax Return.  Even if I made all the $ in the world and could make over and above all the required house payments, getting a loan still requires that.  The expectations of moving into our brand new home have been delayed until the beginning of next year.

As much as it hurts, I’m not blaming myself, or anyone else.  I simply followed my GOD.  HE IS BIGGER.  HE IS STILL FAITHFUL.  I STILL FULLY TRUST HIM.  GOD IS STILL GOOD.  This is not the news I was hoping to hear, but HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  Maybe there is more learning and growing I need to endure.  Maybe He wants us to rid of more stuff weighing down our lives and our family.  Maybe there are more people I need to share my story with.  More lives to touch.  More experiences with trials and pain allow me to be a better friend to others going through similar experiences.  Or maybe I’ll never know this side of heaven and that’s okay.  I will hold my head high, take deep breaths, and Walk On.  But during the next 6 months, you might find me in the season of Now Run.

Please remember to pray for our family as we RUN TO CHRIST during this next season.  If you want to pray for specifics… then by all means:

In 6 months I will still have to pay $9000 in rent, need to pay off about $7000 in debt, need to buy a 2^nd car (or somehow fix two non-running ones), and still show a net income of $3153.17 per month oh yeah, and also feed, clothe, and pay for electricity for our family too! 

When I’ve been in a very long season of walking and now, I’m being required to run, please pray that I remember to run to Christ when I’m weary and want to give up.

As far as any financial gifts you have given towards our new home build/purchase via GoFundMe, they will be set aside in a special savings account to be held for closing at the beginning of next year.

My prayer and scripture for the next 6 months is found in Ephesians 3:14-21

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen US with power through his Spirit in OUR inner beings so that Christ may dwell in OUR hearts through faith.  And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that WE may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.

“Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!”

"The Final Chapter" and "A New Beginning"

     

    Today my intent was to blog about how God has been rocking my world through the months of June and July.  But guess what?  God had other ideas for how my time would be spent this afternoon.  

    Today I will be sharing with you a big win in my book!

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    As many of you may have heard by now, I'm working on writing a book and looking to produce a movie in the near future!  I've had a title, sub-title, and front cover image for many years (nearly 16 years now).  The crazy thing about having only a smidgen of the info for as long as I have is that I've often felt it would cover many different topics.  Once it was going to be about mothering through the years of toddlerhood, missionary stories out of the Caribbean Mission Field, or any number of other subjects along the way.

    As I began to experience years of uncertainty, restlessness, pain, heartbreak, and even captivity, I hung to the CROSS OF CHRIST.  I tried my hardest to "Consider it pure joy...when I faced these trials of many kinds because I knew that the testing of my faith would produce perseverance and I was to let that perseverance finish its work so that I could become mature and complete...lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-3; Paraphrased).

    The more the Lord began teaching me about HIS forgiveness and receptiveness it became ever so clear what my book was to contain.  It is as follows:

Walk On

Stories of Fear, Faith, & Freedom in Christ

(through the Eyes of Domestic Violence Survivors) 

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And the movie, similar to the book, but slightly different will be:

Walk On

A documentary on the secret world of Domestic Violence in the Church

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     It's funny how things work out, having had these visions for so many years now.  I've been spot-writing through probably the last 5 years now.  It wasn't until the months of June & July that I knew what would be included in the beginning and final chapters.

    Just a few days ago I began speaking with a published author about many of the questions I have had and I'm sure will continue to have.  The biggest one...how do you know when to stop when you love to write but want to share the life stories of so many people.  I guess as I suspected I would just know.  Today I was awakened by the Lord telling me what my ending subject would be about.  I'd like to say the end is near, however, I still need to fill in the middle!  So...who really knows?  I am looking at going on a "Writer's Retreat" to somewhere beautifully inspiring and quiet.  I want to sit with the Lord and write and write and write.  I know without a doubt that it is one of my top priorities now.

    If you guys happen to have any leads for a movie production crew or know someone famous, I have an audio manuscript ready for sending.  I hope to get it transcribed into a paper manuscript as well.

Misty Dupree

He said, "Rest and Trust."

Often times I find myself, overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of life as a Single Mom.  Living life with a lot of little people brings me days full of joy, pain, exhaustion, gratitude, inability, tears, and laughter.  I'm going to be honest.  It's SO SO SO HARD.  I wish there where more days of joy and laughter.  

In March of 2022, just one year ago, God began a quiet whisper in my soul.  Rest & Trust...You need to Rest and just trust  me.  

"Um, excuse me. Did you say rest?  How in the world am I able to rest?  You do realize that I have 8 kids and I do EVERYTHING on my own and all the responsibilities of keeping these humans alive lies in my hands."   No matter how much I tried to get Him to understand (foolish of me, I know right?), He continued the soft whisper.  Rest and Trust.  I wrested with that for a very long time.  "I do trust you Lord!  I trust that next year when we are in our new house, I will have time to Rest and Trust."  I continued on with my stubbornness.  That small whisper...Rest & Trust never let up.  Little did I know, the Lord was about to do some mighty things and teach me some MAJOR lessons.  Let me be the first to say that when the Lord says Rest & Trust, you do it...NOW.  Not on your own time, but HIS time.

One Sunday morning, that March, the Lord asked me, "Why won't you trust me?  You need to trust and believe that you need to Rest & Trust in me.  I understand that you want to Rest and Trust next year, but I need you to Rest and Trust NOW"  I finally got the message, threw up my hands and said, "Ok, I will Rest and Trust you now."  I call that time in my life my "My March Madness".  

Opening up my hands and surrendering was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  Shortly after that time, I learned that rest was in my near future.  I ended up having surgery and was put on strict bed rest for 6-8 weeks.  The Lord also began a stirring, yet again, in my heart.  This time it was "Girl, I want you to quit your job." Um...are you crazy Lord, you do remember that I'm a single mom whose child support barely makes a dent in our needs and that I have to do every thing I can to provide over and above that support to make ends meet."  As the weeks carried on, after surgery, while I was resting in His presence, I began praying for wisdom to continue to trust Him.  FOR HIS TIMING.  

"Yes, Lord.  I will quit my job.  But when?"

He said, "Rest in me and I will tell you when the time is right."

Fast forward a few months and my day started with the intent to talk to my boss about reducing my hours...yet again.  I was so tired from trying to do things on my own.  Trying to provide. Trying to work outside the home, run a business from home, transport kids to and from school, afterschool activities, doctor, dentist, orthodontist, physical therapy, church, concerts, school field trips and more.  I felt 100% sure that I needed to be home with my babies and spend less time packing my days doing things MY WAY.  That beautiful day, I walked in my office and quit my job.  I gave my two week notice and began to Trust the Lord...for TODAY.  Trust Him NOW.

Wow...what a long year it has been.  So many ups and downs and spirals, and tears and prayers, and requests, etc.  I still don't have it completely figured out. I still struggle with Rest and Trust.  I'm happy to say, however, that seeing how the Lord has carried us through the past year has been nothing but absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and so rewarding.  I pray that I never forget His faithfulness and goodness to our family.

A new chapter is on the horizon for us.  We will soon be moving into our very own home.  We were blessed to be a recipient family of a brand new Habitat House.  It is being built with love and care by amazing volunteers in community, local real estate agents, and we got to help as well.  One amazing blessing about this home is that we will have two dishwashers, two washers, and two dryers.  Those of you who have more than a couple of kids can probably understand my excitement about these things.  

As the weeks march on, closer and closer to our move in date, the joy and excitement in me is rising.  This has been one of the longest, and hardest years of my life.  I'm not saying that a new house will protect us from hard years, but that the Lord has found it in His grace and kindness to bless us with a fresh start in a new home.  Something I've never had ever imagined.

I have so many amazing stories of God's provision.  I'm here to say, as hard as it may seem, and as hard as it ACTUALLY IS...I beg and plead for you to Rest & Trust in Jesus.  Trust HIM for TODAY, not for SOMEDAY!  I can't fathom how much harder and more difficult this past year could have been had I not had Christ to help carry me through those dark months.

I woke up to a message from a dear friend who prayed for me over the phone.  Lord her words were a gift this morning. You timing is EPIC!

"Lord, I give everyone and everything to you God.  Fill me Lord with more of you.  So, Lord, that really does cover everything and all of the things that are weighing on us, and we are thinking about.  But we can't let that stay in us because we were not meant to carry it.  It's not up to us.  We are not God, we are not Holy Spirit Jr. You are in control, you do not need us to handle the things. You need us to lay them at your feet.  Be in a place of PEACE.  In a place of REST."

Here I am Lord, listening, listening for your voice.

Misty Dupree

Place In This World - Part Two

As I sat down to finally start blogging again, I decided to take a look back at my last post to see where I left off.  I realize it's been one day shy of 7 YEARS since I've last written to you.  Oh wow. I just cried a little bit.  How is it possible that I survived the last 7 years without writing to you?  I guess you could say that most of the writings over the last seven years have been in my heart and on my mind.  Christ has carried me through on a journey that I don't fully understand, and I may never will.  I come back here today to confess that I'm still looking for "My Place in This World".  Only in a new way as a new chapter is unfolding.  I will not be sharing it all with you this evening, but I am healing.  One of the ways I heal is through writing.  I know that I'm not the only one hurting these days so rest assured I will always write with caution and consideration for others involved, but I am here to share my pain, my suffering, my wins, my losses the joys and sorrows of the last few years, and ultimately share how the Lord has paved away and gone before me on this journey I call life.

Not everyone knows this yet, but I've been through hell and back the last few years with loss after loss, and sometimes feel like I've been living a lie. For nearly a decade, I kept it together (well sort of), everything looked good on the outside but I was dying every day on the inside.  Hiding, grieving, wondering, wishing, feeling all kinds of emotions.  I don't know how many nights of sleep I lost. I was up wondering and praying what would come of this life that I know.  How will I survive?  Is this truly what the Lord had in mind for me?  I was able to push the pain away from time to time over the years, but I had this longing, aching, confusion, and deep misunderstanding that never would subside.  I just assumed that this is the way life was to be.  I just needed to suck it up, put on my big girl "happy Christian wife & mom" panties, show up, and be the happy, blessed, altogether, perfect, super wife and mom that everyone thought I was.

As I begin once again to put pen to paper as one might say, I am reminded why I write. I write because I'm called to.  I'm good at it.  I want to share my heart and soul with you.  I want you to know that I've been there.  I've done that.  I want to hold your hand and help you get stronger.  I want to grieve with you, hug you, believe in you, help you and pray for you.  I believe without a doubt that I am on this Earth to share my journey with you.  I've been through what I've been through so I can help others.  As much as I don't enjoy the mess I'm in...I'm thankful that I'm the one going through this and not you.   In the end, Christ (no matter how hard the sanctification process is for me) will get the glory.

The biggest lesson I've learned these past few years is to ask Christ what His will is for me...daily.  Not what is His will for me long-term or what does He want me to do next week?  Simply to follow him DAILY.  I am to 100% follow His leading and calling in my life and step out in faith trusting Him and trusting that He will provide my every need.   Over this past year, I've had to dig very, very, deep in my soul and ask lots of questions.  I've prayed, and prayed, and wrestled, and believed. I've trusted and prayed more. I've spent hours and hours with counselors and pastors seeking council. I've doubted, and believed and doubted more.  I had to make some tough decisions and put up some hard boundaries in my life.  

All of this (as hard as it was) was going on during the great pandemic of 2020.  I ended up schooling the kids from AR for 3 months, attending zoom counseling sessions by night, all the while trying to live a somewhat normal life over 800 miles from home.  I learned so much about who I was, who my kids were, and oddly enough began to find joy again.  I began listening more, caring more, asking more questions.  My heart had been hurting for so long...I needed that break for so many reasons.  I needed to be home.  I needed my family and friends from childhood.  When we left to head back to NC from AR in June of 2020 I knew that the Lord had begun ever so slightly a sturring in my heart that I would be returning to AR for good.  My journey back home is a very long and heartbreakingly beautiful story..but it's for another day.

Misty

Place In This World

It's been a long time since I've been so burdened for something yet, I can't completely figure out what it is.  I've ended (or just begun) my evening with such a heavy heart and with tears and tears of hurt and anguish and uncertainty.  The best and only way I can explain it at this point is with the words from this song.  It was written by Michael W. Smith 30 years ago.  Who knew (only The Lord) that a song released in 1984 would be so spot on word for word my thoughts and feelings at this moment in 2014.

"Place In This World"

The wind is moving
But I am standing still
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled

A heart that's hopeful
A head that's full of dreams
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems

Feels like I'm
Looking for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions
Down on their knees
Among the many
Can you still hear me

Hear me asking
Where do I belong?
Is there a vision
That I can call my own?

Show me, I'm
Looking for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Really belated & UNFINISHED post for the blog...but at least its something!

Anyway you look at Jeremiah 29:11 in the Bible, it's pretty amazing and such a great reminder of the useless hours we spend "planning" our lives and trying to live it out the way that we think it should run.

"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."- ESV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - NIV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - KJV

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Looking back at the last post, I soon realized that it's been almost a year now since I've blogged.  I forget how much I love to blog.  I love to write and this gives me an opportunity to do so in such a way that helps clear my mind of many things (good/bad/happy/sad/encouraging/despairing/etc.)

This past year has brought many tears.  Tears of of frustration, anger, bitterness, and in the end tears of JOY as I reflect on how wonderful Jesus Christ is to have carried me through to nearly the end of 2013.  I'll update you now on what has gone on this past year with a few photos/captions/stories!

January 2013

The new year brings quite the excitement in our house!  We are only a couple of months away from ending a HUGE BURDEN/CHAPTER in our lives...HOMESCHOOLING!  For many years prior to having children and also after, I pondered/prayed about the possibility of homeschooling.  There are many great benefits to schooling from home.  When it came down it deciding to do it or not, we were led at the time to give it a try.  We soon found out that homeschooling was NOT in the Lord's plan for us in the school year to follow.  It was the most challenging, trying, most depressing year of my life.  I was more than overwhelmed and am still recovering.  I ended up on medication for depression, the kids and I cried at least once a week - we just survived.  We started out behind and ended a bit behind, but who cares!  Looking back I'm thankful that we took a leap of faith to give it a try.  We all grew so much as a family, and I was able to see my children's strengths/weaknesses develop over the year.

After Christmas playtime!

February 2013

We played the lottery!  Not for money but for schools.  Where I come from (small town Arkansas), school is school and everyone goes to the public school in their district.  If you choose to go to private school, you enroll, pay and your done!

Not in NC!  There are public schools, private schools, charter schools, and magnet schools.  Planning for school for the 2013/2014 year begins with deadlines in FEBRUARY!  The wonderful thing about living in the Triangle of NC is there are many many options for schooling.  That too can be overwhelming to say the least.  Prior to homeschooling, my kids attended a Private Christian School which we loved, but it was breaking the bank and was about to cost more than our mortgage.  We decided to look at other options for schooling.  Each child was allowed to apply to be in the lottery for 3 schools (charter/magnet).  Basically its a random drawing from everyone in the area who wants to get in.  But prior to putting names on the list, I visited several of the school and took tours too.  Thankfully (under most circumstances) if one child gets in all the siblings get in too!   There were two schools that really caught my eye, so we were sure to add those to the list.  Well, Jacob got in one school.  Both Lizzy and Jacob got into the other school.  And Andrew got into a third school.

After much prayer we decided on Sandy Ridge Elementary.  It is a magnet school which is humanities based.  They offer "specials" (a portion of class time everyday) in Spanish, Theater, Art, Dance, Music, and PE.  If you know anything about me - I LOVE SOME HUMANITIES, and my kids have picked up that love.

When we went to the open house we mentioned to the the principle that only two of our children had been accepted into the school.  He said that should not be.  He wanted our information and he called the DPS school offices the next week and made sure that Andrew was on the list and in the school.  This was our first introduction to the school...talk about standing out as top notch already!  Now to just finish up the homeschooling year, survive the summer, and public school here we come!

March 2013

This month was pretty low key.  We had Durham Public School Preschool sign-ups (that is just to be assessed to see if you qualify for preschool).  The boys (Jacob & Andrew) started Spring baseball.  I did a bit of scrapbooking with my sister-in-law, and just laid low!

April 2013

Baseball kept us busy throughout the week.  JD took and PASSED yet another Architectural Registration Exam!   We managed to get everyone to a family photo shoot prior to Jeff & Witney and the kids' move to NM at the beginning of the summer. Kudos to the photographer at Portrait Innovations!  It took her about 30 min to photograph 10 kids and 6 adults!

Okay so I'm trying to get my life in order and stay organized and on top of things!  Keeping to some sort of schedule is very much needed, yet very much dreaded.  I don't enjoy schedules, nor do I look forward to having one, BUT with a family our size, I think it's in the best interest of everyone involved that we at least TRY to keep one.  So, for starters, I'm going to talk about my new "Life Book".  I'd like to give a shout out to Beckie at Infarrantly Creative for inspiring me to create my "Life Book".  I could have printed her version and just used it but she is a blogger & mom, and I'm a sewer, mom, and schooler, etc.  I just needed to tweak a few things and add a few catagories.



This is a work in progress and I plan to add a couple more catagories and some tab dividers to make it more user friendly.  I will start with some Jan-Dec dividers.

Each month's divider will have a Meal Calendar, Weekly Lists (Household/Office), Shopping Lists, Notes, and a second calendar just for Birthdays

 The backside of the page on the left is the "Office" page, and the backside of the Right page is a blank page of "Notes"

One of the sections on my Household Page is "To Blog About".  I'm making an effort to write down things throughout the week that I would like to blog about.  There are lots of funny, serious, and crazy things that go on in a house of our size, so by the weekend, I have weeks worth of talking to do...Lucky You!!!

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Last month I spoke a lot about schooling.  Ready for a little bit more?  I sent JD one of my very kind and loving emails that he gets quite often.  "I'm done...I hate it...I quit...Come home before I die"  Yes, it was one of those days.  His responded that he had begun to see a pattern.  Every other day I send him one of these e-mails, and every other day I send him one very much the opposite.  He suggested that we school Every Other Day (just make sure it's on a good day!).  What a great idea!  This allows me to not feel guilty about needing to go to the grocery, to drs. appointments, run other errands, etc.  PLEASE don't tell the kids.  They don't know that I'm doing school everyday.  On one of the off days last week we had a "FIND EVERY LAST KID SOCK IN THE HOUSE DAY'.  It took all morning and even pushed lunch back an hour. (See later post about socks below).  And wouldn't you know that after we finished, they were asking if it was okay to start school...Well, yes, I believe it is okay...go right ahead!  They weren't stressed and neither was I!!!  WooHoo!!!

I guess when you get one or two ducks in a row, you might as well just start lining things up.

We have joined the YMCA!!!  Not only am I excited to get fit, in shape, and loose about 30 lbs. they have 2 hours of CHILDCARE included with your membership.  The way I see it, is that I could drop the kids (ALL 6 OF THEM), work out or join a class for the first hour, and use the second hour to relax.  I can sit in the reading room quietly, or I can shower (without interruptions), apply makeup, dry & straighten my hair and leave there ready to rock and roll.  This benefit to membership means more to me than absolutly any other perks.  The first time I worked out, I was sort of amazed that I was able to put my headphones on and listen to whatever I wanted to without interruptions, and I could leave the world behind and go into my own dream world.

On the particular afternoon that we went in to officially sign up, it was a quiet afternoon.  The kids had not had a nap and I knew that it might end up being a trying time, so I was mentally prepared.  But I wasn't quite prepared for how the event unfolded.  While I was filling out paperwork the kids were playing peek-a-boo with another worker up/down the stairs, in front/behind the desk, around the corner, and some were even watching the swimmers through the window.  I was looking up very often to make sure I knew where each kid was and what they were up too, but not being too worried about it because there was another adult keeping their attention.  THEN all of a sudden I hear the Fire Alarms blarring...Oh yeah...they will NEVER forget the Duprees!  One little boy's curiosity got the best of him!  I told him he was not in trouble but that we needed to learn a lesson from this one.  By the time I finished filling out my paperwork, I found out that there was no childcare between the hours that we were there, so we had to leave...but look what we found in the parking lot...

Lizzy was the only one brave enough to get her photo taken with the fireman!

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Have I ever told you how much I LOVE PINTEREST?  Well, I do.  I pin a lot of things, but boy have i ever used it.  It is my go to cookbook, kids craft ideas, sewing ideas, and most importantly my ORGANIZATION DESTINATION!

This weeks #1 Household Project: (As mentioned above):  SOCKS.  I was sick and tired of washing, drying, sorting, pairing, and then putting most of the socks into our mismatched bag for later pairing.  I had had ENOUGH.  So on our "FIND EVERY LAST KID SOCK IN THE HOUSE DAY" that's exactly what we did.  They all came to me in the laundry room.  All of them were turned right side out, unrolled, unpaired, etc, and thrown into the wash....do you have any clue as to how many socks 6 kids have?  We've only purchased maybe 5-6 pkgs of socks in 6 years.  It's like socks find their way to our house to screw with mommy's mind.  Anyway, I washed and ENTIRE load of kid socks, and this is what I came up with:

Once this box was further sorted into Boy & Girl socks, I found the contents alone to be a bit overwhelming.  There were 155 girl socks & 147 boy socks.  And I can guarantee there is no way that I would be able to come up with 151 pairs of socks!

From this (Above)

to this:

to this:

So much better!  Each kid has their OWN small laundry bag for their OWN socks & undies.  Every night their new (good) socks & undies go into these bags (color coded by mom - they don't get a say when it comes to organization).  On their wash day, the bag is tossed (as is) in with their laundry (that they are required to haul down the stairs) - This is all new to me - making them be responsible for helping wash, dry, fold and put away THEIR clothes...I CAN'T DO IT ALL...

Now that each kid has 6 pairs of socks each, I expect that this should be pretty manageable.  UNTIL I realized that even so, we now have 36 pairs of kid socks...but, it's a lot less than 151 pairs!

ENTER...PROBLEM #2

THE TRAMPOLINE vs. NEW SOCKS

I've been so very mean to not let a single new sock out of the house (unless it's on a kids foot and in a shoe).  So for the past week the kids have been in and out of the old sock box more than I like (since I JUST WASHED THEM ALL), but all of our new sock still look new!

Kudos to my best friend Maria for the best idea ever!  We now have 2 packages of TRAMPOLINE ONLY socks. 10 large pairs & 6 small pairs (this should cover our kids, a few neighbor kids, & the cousins too).  In order to better identify these socks we Tye Dyed them tonight!  Might I say, we did a HORRIBLE job, but hey, it was our first time and the kids loved it.  They are setting up now and tomorrow we will get to remove the rubber bands and see their creations!

So about the socks!  They washed well, are STILL UGLY AS CAN BE, but quite functional...we LOVE them!


*****I'm finishing this blog several days later, so bear with me as I gather my thoughts again*****

Like I said earlier...I LOVE PINTEREST!  I've got to figure out a way to have a section on here with all the "Pinterest (y)" things I've done as a way I can review them and remind myself of the great things we've tried, along with the bad things we will never try again!

Here's another activity (one of the great things) that I've begun using with the kids. 

Each kid has a "Caught you being good" jar.  I'm trying to encourage good behavior and praise them more often for the good that they do rather than to have an entire day of "no, don't do that, how many times have I told you, why would you even think that's a good idea, etc.type of days. I think today was one of the best days yet.  Getting 6 kids out the door to get somewhere on time is a challenge.  I usually send a couple of kids to the car to get strapped in while I'm finishing up with assisting another child.  By the time I get to the car 5-10 min later, I find all the kids out playing in the yard INSTEAD of doing what they had been told to do.  Well, today it worked...FINALLY.  When I got to the car ALL THREE BOYS were sitting quietly in their seats, fully buckled, and ready to roll!  By golly, I was so excited that they each got TWO POM-POMS!  If they fill their jar (well reach a certain number of pom-poms, they will get $2.00 and a trip with mommy to the Dollar Tree.  (Except Lizzy has explained that she would rather just save the $2.00)

My favorite part of this system is, that the jars take up every bit of windowsill space above the sink, therefore it no longer collects, coins, clippers, cups, chewing gum, screws, and whatever else that is small that doesn't have a home. :o)

About Thanksgiving.  This year the International Connections Ministry @ FBC Durham (which JDs been a part of for sometime now) encouraged families in the church to have a couple of internationals in their home for the holiday so they (internationals) could experience one of a handful of truly American things.  We chose to have our Thanksgiving dinner the day after Thanksgiving so we could incorporate a touch of the Christmas tradition (putting up of the tree) as well as stuffing our tummies with food and football.

We had lots of fun and learned a lot about China and Tibet.  Did you know that our 1495 sq.ft. house in China would sell for about 2 Million dollars?  CRAZY HUH?

Okay, so I must end before I really get to blabbing.  I need to go to bed and get at least a little bit of sleep!  Good Night, Everyone!

6-Weeks In

Well, we have survived the first 6 weeks of schooling the kids from home. It certainly hasn't been easy and I cant say that I've enjoyed it all. But in the end, we survived.  I have managed to mop at least twice in the six weeks and I keep laundry going, it just keeps going from the couch to the basket, then back to the couch and may not ever make it to it's proper location, but we never leave the house naked!  Aren't you glad!  ME TOO (I've actually gained weight these last 6 weeks)!

To be honest, it has been a very hard 6 weeks for me (well, except the whole 2 week VACATION part thrown in there).  So REALLY it's only been rough for about 4 weeks...Boy does that make me feel better!  I guess when the times are tough it seems as if they have been going on forever. I've cried a little. Okay, so maybe A LOT.  I'd like to give a shout out to the makers of Charmin for wiping my physical tears and the wonderful ladies at Merle Norman (Northgate Mall) for helping me feel pretty on the outside even if I don't feel it on the inside every day.  Being a mom is tough, being a homeschooling mom is tougher! I guess you never know unless you ever try.

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There are a few things I've learned over the last 6 week; since you asked so politely, I'd be happy to share them with you.

1.  Don't even think about a nap, it's never gonna happen.

2.   SITTING DOWN to nurse and infant...not so doable.  She gets lots of bottles.

And as of this week, I'm FINALLY okay with that, and I'm not letting myself feel guilty about it.

3.  Don't EVER try to make a phone call during the day..

4.  Going to the grocery...with 6 kids...during the day...you better go ahead and just get those big girl panties on, because your gonna need them by the time you get to the check out!

5.  Lunchables for dinner (sounds good to me)!  Believe it or not I actually paid full price for those waste of money things the other day.  That was nearly $10.00 of my grocery money...POOF...but the kids LOVED them, and were able to eat them in the car on the way to church.

6.  If you want to speed up the potty training, buy a huge box of size 5 diapers for one kid and a very small package of Pull-Ups for the other kid and suddenly those diapers don't seem as appealing.  And get this...the Pull-Ups were for Charlie.  I think that Cyndi just wanted to be like mommy and "PUT ON THOSE BIG GIRL PANTIES".  You go girl!

Here's a little secret - I only change one the kid's diapers (the baby).  Charlie and Cyndi...they are on their own!  That's one thing I've passed the buck on.  They help mommy by helping themselves!  After all they are old enough to now, right?  They are already 2 and 3.  Boy do they grow up fast.

7.  Never try to make an apple pie from scratch.  It seriously took me three days (and I even bought the pre-made pie crusts this time).  I put the crust in the pie plate, and got everything ready but the apples.  I even melted my butter!  Then well, life happens.  In the microwave it went for safe keeping.  On day two I managed to get my cutting board out, and the bag of apples too.  And what do you know, life happened again.  Finally on day three I re-melted my butter, got the apples back out, sliced up them up (thank you Pampered Chef for your Food Chopper, it makes my life so much easier), topped it with crust and put it in the oven before anything else got in my way.

That was two days ago and I still haven't stopped long enough to have a piece...I think I'll change that...be right back!  Yummy, that was so GOOD.  If you ever want to bribe me bring me an apple pie.  I have a funny story about an apple pie I once ate.  When baby Maggie was born someone brought us an apple pie along with a meal.  Being the lover of apple pies I am, I ATE THE WHOLE THING.  That's okay though, it was over a week.  It's not like it was in one day!

8.  Never let your husband take you to a used car lot to check out what was once a 15 passenger van turned work van, that could be converted back into a family van.  You might just leave the dealership with a nearly new condition, one-owner, leather seated, SUBURBAN!!!  Thanks baby, I love you.  Oh yeah, within the next few weeks we'll have a great old Mercedes Benz station wagon for sell if you are interested!

9.  If you or your kids are new at this whole homeschooling thing, don't bother taking it all with you on vacation...everyone will suffer...even MeeMaw (sorry Phyllis).

10. Always pack a jacket.  It turned rainy and cold for my 10 year college reunion homecoming weekend.  We had to stop and buy 8 jackets before the Saturday festivities.  Any guesses as to what that cost us?

11. I should do two things more often...Blog, and Sew...I'm so much nicer to be around after having done either of these.  Blogging allows me to look back and reflect over the days past and realize that they really were quite funny!  And sewing, well I just love to do it.  I MADE myself take some time off but trying to get going again...I sewed this evening before blogging...

Maybe that's why I'm so long winded tonight.  Enough said, here are 6 weeks worth of phots for you!

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, one last thing about sewing...I'm so excited! On November 2nd Hancock Fabrics (Hillsborough Rd - Durham) is opening up in a new location in the same strip mall.  It's TWICE the size of the old store and DRUM ROLL...THEY HAVE A POTTY...I CAN SHOP WITH KIDS IN TOW NOW!!!

 

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Click on these links for photos!

VACATION PHOTOS

(Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, & California) 

Friday Family Fun Night

Andrew's Baseball Season 

Cousin Sleep-Over

Lizzy had an End of Summer sleep-over with all the cousins!  Each girl enjoyed helping sew their very own eye mask for the evenings festivities which included watching Barbie movies, Oreos, & fruit snacks too.  Somehow MeeMaw & Cyndi managed to get some sleep and didn't make this photo.  But, there is evidence they were there!

All things old?

  
What have we been up to this year you might ask?  Well, let's see.  

In January we started off the new year announcing the upcoming arrival of baby #6; We celebrated the 4th birthday of our sweet, bouncy, little boy Jacob; In celebration of my sweet niece, & wonderful neighbor girl twins' birthdays' we took an afternoon off and visited the local beauty school for some much needed pedicures & paraffin wax treatments!

In February we took the first steps at putting our house on the market (haven't finished that one yet - hopefully soon); Misty had outpatient surgery (pregnancy related); and well, that's about it!

In March I'm sure we did something interesting, but nothing is showing up on my electronic calendars so I better check the paper one.  OH, I almost forgot an INSANE (Last Minute) trip we took.  We found out a few days prior to Spring Break that our cousins were also on Spring Break the same week so I decided to surprise the kids and drive them to AR for a quick visit!  Yes, I'm am crazy.  I took my pregnant self, my 5 kids, & my niece (who was a HUGE help) and drove all night long to AR.  We left about 2:00 in the afternoon and arrived at my parents house about 6:00 am the next morning!  Our plans to surprise my mom worked out perfectly!  She was woken up by her grand-kids singing, "So Rise and Shine, & Give God the Glory, Glory,...)  We had such a great time (except the two days that my niece and I were sick).

And there was the season premier of Dancing w/ The Stars!  I love to watch it but have found that some of the judges comments can be crude and provocative, so I try to mute it when they speak. When I watch, I sometime feel that I too could dance if I just tried, then I remember that I'm not too quick on my feet, and say well, maybe not. JD and I did take Ballroom Dancing together when we were dating, so maybe that is why I enjoy watching it so much!

In April Jonathan and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary!  He (somehow) convinced his brother and wife to watch our 5 kids for a weekend so we could go celebrate.  We went to one of my favorite places: Asheville, NC. (I'd live there someday if I could).  Our church owns a cottage in the mountains called Rand Cottage so we were able to stay there for the weekend.  It was so beautiful and we had such a nice time doing pretty much nothing but relaxing.  We did a puzzle, cooked as little as possible, went shopping,I got a prenatal massage, drove around and looked at real estate (too bad retirement isn't sooner), and JD wanted to take me to the shooting range (THANKFULLY or shall I say LUCKY FOR ME, they didn't allow pregnant women there)!

And drum roll....the highlight of our trip:  Our last night at the cottage (remember it's our 10 year anniversary get away) we decided to have a nice romantic dinner (well, it was left-overs, but we were together) on the rocking chair front porch with the cool evening mountain breeze blowing through our hair.  After dinner we took our dishes to the kitchen to begin cleaning up and we hear footstep (very near) and then heard a voice (one we recognized)!  We knew that there was a group coming in the following day to stay for the week, but it was not the following day!  Well, 3 "wiser" couples from church decided to come up the night before their retreat to get the cottage ready for the group that was coming the next day.  Who would have guessed that being "interrupted" on an anniversary weekend getaway would be such fun!  These three coupled have a few years on us and a ton of great stories.  The cool thing about it is that we typically don't cross paths with these couples at church, so we were able to get to know them better and now share an experience with them!

In May, not a whole lot went on. Jonathan's mom came in for a visit at some point.  While she was here we were able to celebrate Lizzy & Andrew's school graduations, spend lots of time with cousins, and eat at Pelican SnoBalls at least once!

In June our hand bell choir performed a "Sweet Music" night to raise money for the Adoption Ministry at church.  We played several songs and provided desserts for our guests.  I also was able to advance my sewing skills by taking a "Make a Tuffet" class. There was 7 hours of class time and about 5 hours total of sewing time to complete this little tuffet.  But I loved EVERY moment of it!  I got to learn a new trade and took home a beautiful piece of furniture (well, it was for my niece, so I only see it ever so often), but that's okay I've got a few more started.  You can order you custom one HERE.

The kids participated in VBS once again this year, and I DID NOT!  I had volunteered the previous 3 years and I decided that this year I would take my maternity leave and stay close to home.  I always enjoy the music cd's the kids bring home and hearing them sing about God's word.

We also took the kids to the annual LMHT Associates Durham Bull Baseball outing (JD's company)!  This is always a highlight of our summer!  We only lost one kid this year and poor Charlie (once found - waiting patiently by the elevator of the parking deck) said in his sweet and quiet little 3 year old voice, "I was lost."  Thank you so much Lord for protecting him from danger and allowing him to be "found" by honest folks who waited with him until we returned.

In July, not much was planned but...God had other plans for us!  On the morning of July 4th we had planned a "Men's work day" here at the house in order to get some projects tackled for getting the house on the market.  My brother-in-law planned to come over the night before so he and JD could get all the tools ready, move needed furniture, take down shelving, etc. to be prepped and ready to go very early the next morning.  Well, just a couple of minutes before my brother-in-law knocked on the door, my WATER BROKE.  When he knocked on the door (carrying a rake, a backpack, and other assorted tools) I greeted him saying, "Change of plans!  You get to babysit!"  Off to UNC we went!

Bed Rest it was!  Nothing unfamiliar to me!  It was like old times (5W01) only now Antepartum is on the 3rd floor.  I spent several day there "waiting" and eventually started showing signs of infection.  So they decided it was time to deliver.  By the time that I was in full blown labor I had a 104+ temperature.  NOT EXACTLY FUN!  Needless to say, when they check me and I was only 5cm dilated, I opted for my first ever epidural.  It ended up being such a blessing as I was able to deliver ASAP so the doctors could administer the needed antibiotics for my infection.

Margaret Jane Dupree

July 7th, 2012

4lbs. 9oz

17 1/2" long

Maggie spent 8 days in the NCCC @ UNC (also a very familiar place).

My mommy was able to fly in a few days later and spend a couple of weeks here to help out transition baby Maggie home!  It's so wonderful to have family who is ready and willing to give of their time to come and help out when needed.

We also celebrated Cyndi's 2nd birthday this month too!

In August it hits and it hits HARD.  You would think that after you have a baby things would slow down a bit but when you have 5 other kids to tend to, there is NO STOPPING.  We had appointments after appointments.  We had decided to transition all the kids to UNC Pediatrics and they were all in need of their yearly check ups anyway, so I tried to stagger the appointments where I could take a few at a time.  This is where large family logistics can get a bit challenging.  Sometimes it works, and other times, you must ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, and do with it what you can. (i.e.when you suddenly find that you end up having to take ALL 6 kids with you to an appointment - I almost canceled it, but realized that school would be starting a week or so later and knew it would be that much more difficult to go then).  To top if off, we woke up late that morning too!  I just threw everyone in the car and drove through Burger King on the way in for some breakfast.  Once we got to our room at the doctors office we literally had a breakfast picnic on the floor.  The kids enjoyed that a lot.  Before we left UNC we stopped in at the Butterfly Garden on campus and I used my new DSLR camera (WOOHOO - Happy Birthday me - August birthday) to take a gazilliion pictures of the kids.  It was so much fun.  They were climbing trees, playing with pinwheels & wind chimes, and I even let them play with the small water fountain too!

Lizzy and Andrew had been practicing all summer long for the summer musical "Race to Win" at church. They had several performatces in late August.

Jonathan's mom was also able to come in to help out and did get to see one of the kids performances.

Andrew go signed up for baseball and LOVES it!

A week before private school started back we decided to homeschool.  YES...can you believe it?  So you may be thinking that we are CRAZY but some friends told us about a new thing that Abeka has available.  Online Streaming.  The kids log in everyday on their computers and participate with an actual class (pre-taped).  They have a teacher, and fellow students in their class.  My job as the parent is to "facilitate".  Each night I look at the next days lesson plans and pull the needed workbook sheets, and any arts/crafts supplies they might need for the day and have it ready for them the next morning when school starts.  I will also grade and test and send off the needed paperwork each quarter to Abeka.  It's a pretty sweet gig!We are two days in and everyone loves it.  The kids woke up today and before we made it down for breakfast were asking if it was time to start school. 

Okay, so you are now up to date on our lives...a year in a nutshell!  I wanted to start a new blog and start over.   I feel that I'm in a new place in my life, physically, mentally, parent-ily (if that's a word), and spiritually and wanted to introduce more joy into my life...and one of the ways I find joy is in words.  I love to type, talk, share, and take photos!  As you read earlier I now have a DSLR so there will be MANY more photos to come...BEWARE!

If you are new to following the Dupree Clan, you may be interested in kowing a bit about us before this year.  You can read our old blog HERE.

In His Love,

Misty Dupree