Our biggest christmas ever!

Our new nativity scene given to me by a great friend

 

I know my last post was written about things I am thankful for, but there is so much more. God is showing me so many things. So we are doing really good. I got some new kids in counseling and the others are doing way better. We are amazed at how our Christmas is coming together. I haven't spent any money yet we have so many presents under our tree, and even some for me! We usually didn't have much for Christmas in the past. And last year we didn't even have a tree.  So to see what God provided is amazing.   Just in the last two weeks or so I have been given a Christmas tree, had money given to me, all our bikes are fixed, a friend paid for a new tire I needed, someone took our family portrait for free, many families have given us presents, food, and we got our housing voucher, and right now I am sitting at a fancy condo by the beach! I am so blown away. So we get to move to a place of our own here pretty soon. And God is always working the impossible in situations for us. I am a little overwhelmed at the thought of moving again so soon, but I think it took me moving to somewhere small to realize we may need a little bit bigger place. That one extra bedroom makes a big difference, so we are going from a two bedroom to a three. :) And the place has a big living room and dining room, which I love, because I love having people over and hosting things. So I am looking forward to doing that again.

 

Thank you all for your prays. I am also very blessed to be in the community I am in. People are really nice to my kids and are always willing to help us our in different situations. God has shown me that I am not alone in raising my children. He is walking this road with me, and I can go to Him anytime I need him. Sometimes I feel like the same characteristics I have lived with are showing up in my children. But I serve a God bigger than any legacy we have been left with. God has helped me to stay more patient with my kids, I almost feel like my old self again. And I am learning to enjoy time on my own.  I even went to see a movie with some friends :) by my myself.  I do most things with my kids, and for a little while it was hard to be alone. But now I am starting to enjoy it. It is nice to feel like a whole, normal person again. God can heal anything!

 

 

                                                    Our tree is going to be hidden soon!

Lots to be thankful for!!

I have been so busy trying to unpack, have thanksgiving, play practice, and just managing 7 kids...lol. So first, Thanksgiving. It was really great, I hosted a dinner for the other ladies that go to Sable House. A lot of us are in the same situation so it was fun to get together out side of our support group that we go to. My church was very supportive and let me host it there. They also helped to donate food and decorations. So it was pretty easy on me.  We made gingerbread houses with the ladies and their children. They all said they had a lot of fun. We did too! :)


I'm not the best yet at getting these to look organized or even in a nice row....but whatever lol (keep reading below the pictures)

  

  

 



My children and I have been practicing for the Christmas play. It is quite a production. Not just a simple play.  You are all invited. I hope if you live close by, you can come. If not it will be recorded, I can get you a copy if you let me know. 

I have to tell you about my special camera. I wanted to buy a camera on black Friday, or as some call it grey Thursday..lol. But I had no money so I just took my children shopping, they had money. A few days later I thought maybe the store would have some left over black Friday camera's. But they said "no". So I needed a camera anyway. I talked with the salesman about what camera would be best and why. I finally narrowed it down which one I wanted. He went to look for it under where they keep them locked up and they didn't have it. But they had this other camera that was almost the same, the man wasn't sure what it was. He went to check and it turned out to be a black Friday camera. So not only was it cheap but it was just like the one I wanted and was going to pick anyway. I really felt special, like God had kept it there for me. I was super blessed and excited! This is the second time in just a few months that God has used the fact that I had no money when I thought I needed it, to bless me more later.  He is awesome like that!

Moving has proved itself to be interesting.  I have never moved by myself before. I have never had to make all or any of the decisions before. So it was a bit overwhelming, but a lot of great people showed up to help me and made the transition much easier. I also had a lot of people show up to help me clean the house to "perfection." I needed to leave the house really perfect. It was really perfect when we moved in. So thank you to all of you that helped me! I could have never done it with out you!. Figuring out where to put everything in my house is another exciting challenge. Never have I been able to just put things where I want. And decorating was never my job.  I know that sounds weird, but it's true. I keep typing and backspacing, I want to say I am not good at decorating or arranging rooms, but I really don't know that, I've never really been given a chance or if I tried it was changed. So we will see.

God provided a mini storage for me paid for the next few months, and I get to live rent free for a while. Praise the Lord! He is good to me. I look forward to sending Christmas cards here soon.  If you would like a card, I would love to send you one! Please email me your address. Also feel free to leave comments on here, it is nice, or on FB. Thanks! hollywatkinssoc@gmail.com is my email

God's Blessings

Philippians 4:19 And my God with supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. I have a God that owns the universe, and all that is in it belongs to him. We have been so blessed these last few weeks, I don't even know where to start. I put on Facebook that we are better taken care of now, being alone than before.  It is so true. I was given enough money to pay my rent, people have been almost demanding I call them when I need help moving, giving me boxes, other supplies, gas, I have a friend that will come fix my car whenever I need it, we have plenty of food, people that watch my kids, people that say such encouraging things to me, people all over are praying for me, I have amazing counselors, friends, church, we have had many people tell us how they are working to find us a place to live, I am just so blow away with what an awesome God we serve.  He loves me and that is all that matters. So thank you all of you that are allowing God to use you and bless us, it makes such a world of difference.  It makes this load I carry so much more bearable.

Tried to get a new picture super fast before church on Sunday.lol

 

I would appreciate prayer for my children. Like my counselors said, the wall of protection they had put up from the abuse, is coming down. Some of them act really different now and I need some wisdom on how to handle that. They are amazing kids, that have been through way too much. They all have such sweet loving hearts to help others. It is hard to give each one the attention needed to deal with things. I have started doing what one wise woman told me...take those moments when you find yourself alone with one of them and connect with them for just a minute. I really like this, it's like little hugs, or a small tickle to get a smile, or telling them how beautiful they are. And trying to smile at each one when they look at me, this is hard for me at this point, and I don't know why. I was once accused of being too nice to my kids. I would like to be there again, it is so hard to find the balance in being firm enough to keep the peace without being so harsh you are not pleasant.

 

On a flip note, a big burden has been lifted, my soon to be ex husband has confessed to some of his crimes, taking away that fear of will he really be convicted. Now it's just a matter of when and how long. God's hand works in every area of my life. I do have a lot of legal issues I still need to work out in regards to the children. So prayer in that area is appreciated.  Thanks!

Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) Chris Tomlin

Some fun good news!



Free Backpacks!

Ok, so we have had a lot of fun things happen in the last couple weeks.  One of which was the "free" backpacks we got from the Salvation Army give away in Falls City.  The kids (and I) are so excited.  Going to church on Sunday was super great! Then this past Tues was Tiffany's birthday.  We all went to the beach and had a blast, then on to the Tillamook

 

 

Cheese Factory. It was so great to go and get wet and get sand in the car.....lol with no pressure. We had a lot of fun, we even got to help get some people's car unstuck from the sand.  We love to help people out. Summer has been going potty in the toilet all day...YAY. I think I am going to get to go back to school. I love school. Probable just take some online classes for now.  Today I went and got my leaking tire fixed.  Turned out I had two leaking tires.  Both were fixed for free and someone left me $20 for gas! I've been able to hang out with my kids a lot and get my hair brushed...lol (my favorite thing). I feel like God is giving me a big hug.  So much pressure has been taken off my shoulders, even though I have 7 kids and it's just me and them now, things are better than they've been in a long time and we are happy and pressure free! Thank you to all of the great people in my life who always ask how I'm doing or say I am praying for you.  I don't feel so alone in all of this, and that is God using you to hug me...lol THANKYOU

God's Provision

I stand in awe of the things God is doing.  We were so blessed to go to church today.  Since we had to be in hiding the last few weeks for my families safety, we were not able to go to church.  We would watch it online, but it is not the same. I think that is what my kids and I missed the most about being gone, was church. Anyway, today at church during worship the Lord reminded me of a lesson he taught me way back the first year I was married. During that first year Donavan and I had separated for a short while, and I saw God provide for me in amazing ways.  I learned right then and there, that he would always provide for me, despite Donavan.  I have always been able to know that God would provide, even when things are hard, especially when we had our business.  I am so glad I was taught that way back when, because now it really is just God and I, and the 7 kids he has blessed me with. I was so over whelmed with appreciation for what the Lord has done for us and how his is the best father my kids can have, I really couldn't stop crying.  The service was really great, about how  70% of what we do is from a habit. How important it is to have good habits in everything we do. Then seeing everyone afterwards is great to. I love the people at my church! So after all this someone provided me with enough money to pay my rent, twice! I am so excited! God always goes above and beyond what we even imagine! Thankyou!

Got my new phone!!

Today I woke up to the phone ringing. It was the phone company telling me my phone was going to be shut off if it's not paid right now. I had no way to pay it at that moment, so I hung up and tried to go back to sleep. Feeling like nobody will be able to call me and I could sleep. I did read Ps 121-123. My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth. I woke up to a friend at the door. It was so nice to see a familiar face. After she left I opened her card and she had giving me some money. So I was able to go today, and istead of paying my already late phone bill that I have no control over since Donavan took me off of the account, I opened my own phone account that only I can control. So it was a miracle that I didn't pay my old phone bill. Instead I was able to get 4 phones for only $100. My parents were on our account and Donavan turned there phones off a few weeks ago. So I got them their phones back. I am so happy. God worked all of the details out despite my disappointment this morning. So my new number is on Facebook or message me for it. Thankyou for all your prayers and support!