Rachel L McManus

   We sometimes have preconceived notions about specific things in our heads and when we see things that blow that expectation out of the water, sometimes we are left blessed. This past week I took a week long vacation with my husband out of state, to visit one of the best friends I have ever had in my life. We went to Nebraska where she lived but stayed in South Dakota which bordered one another. Everyone I had talked to, said how flat Nebraska was- just so flat that you could see for miles. I think those people failed to see this area though. There were parts that were flat, but there were those parts when you traveled straight up a hill and crested the top that you could see other rolling hills and although you could see for miles, it was breathtakingly beautiful. We had made plans to see my friend's 'cow farm' and being from Texas I thought I knew what constituted as a cow farm. I did see some that fit my perception, but hers blew me out of the water. Their cow farm was...

        Group last night was so awesome. I love those ladies as if they were my own family. We watched a video on thinking about what you are thinking about. It said that we are all in control of our thoughts.         Have you ever woken up or even during the day had an argument with someone in your head? Got mad at them for something they actually had never said or done? I have! I have had whole arguments, discussions, and laid into someone all inside of my head with just one thought...anyone wonder where that comes from? The Enemy...Satan, the devil, whatever you want to call him. The bible says that he is sneaky and deceptive, look what he did to Eve in the Garden.        The bible also teaches that we are to take every thought captive. What that means is when we have these thoughts that just bubble up out of nowhere, that we are to take a hold of them, examine them and if they are not thoughts that we should be having (so...

Sometimes nothing turns out the way we want them to. My sister and brother-in-law came down this week to get their son's driving test done so he can get his license. Before they came my B.I.L. wanted a list of things that I needed done, because my own husband isn't plumbing/mechanically inclined. So first on the list was the ballast in my kitchen florescent light, next ceiling fan in the kitchen (its Texas and hot), brakes on my car and the plumbing in my front bathroom that has never worked right. We got the kitchen light and fan done within 2 hours, but then we hit that cursed plumbing. Seriously that bathroom has got a curse on it. We have used the shower in there, maybe 15 times in the 11 years that we have lived here. We have replaced everything else in that bathroom, except the tub itself. So we had to go to the store at least 3 times, and are not done yet.     Last night he decided that he was just going to redo then entire part of that pipe with a roll of copper. He g...

   Every time I get to know God a little bit more, I fall in love with Him just a little deeper. His love for me seems to penetrate the shell that I built around my heart a long time ago. He knows that I know when I do something wrong and if I don't immediately repent, He lays it heavy on my heart until I do. See it is not about what I have done, who I am or what I have accomplished in this life or finished. It is about what HE has done, Who HE is and what HE has accomplished and finished.      Sometimes my pride and selfishness get in the way of the plans that God has for me and my family. It is something that He has to deal with on a daily basis and get my heart right before He can maneuver blessings into my life, or even people and situations out of my life.     God has blessed me greatly within my life and am so greatly appreciative of His love and guidance. Why does He even love me? Care about me? Or desire to even see me accomplish anything? I ...

    It is not very often that I get to have a day alone. Being a home-school mom requires me to be constantly with my kids. Don't get me wrong I love to be with them, they are like close friends that I get to hang out with daily, but sometimes we start rubbing each other the wrong way. They need that break from me as much as I need it from them. There are not a lot of people that can really say they know their kids as well as I do, after all I have been spending most of my time with them the past 6 years and counting. I know each personality as though it were my own. God truly did bless me when He gave me these kids for His safe keeping. I can only hope as a parent that I am doing the job He expects out of me.     These kids are great kids, they have funny and kinda weird senses of humor, each different and unique in their own special way. They are caring and kind when they want to be, even to each other. I mean they have to get along if they are going to be with on...

     So today is Valentine's Day and the world suddenly has love for everyone. They all want to celebrate and do something special for their loved one. The question I ask is, why do you need a specific day for this? My writing yesterday had to do with the words that we speak and how they can make or break a person, this falls in line with love also. If you really love someone your mouth will reflect your heart. My husband and I have been together for almost 18 years, and it is a very rare occasion that we actually fight, say harsh words or just argue in general. We respect each other and we always have. We truly are best friends and it has made our marriage and relationship stronger and healthier. He doesn't expect things from me that he himself would not do or say, and I return that favor in kind. Our life and marriage together, while not perfect, reflects our hearts and our values. We love each other and do not want to ever hurt one another.       He lik...

Tonight I go to my Life-Group. I look forward to it on a weekly basis, it gets me out of the house, I get to be with women of a like mind, and my 2 older kids get to go to youth group. It is a definite win win situation all around, because my husband and son get their time together. Tonight we are really getting started on a series that God has lead us to....The power of your words. The bible says that there is life and death in the power of your words, that you can bring curses and/or blessings from your words. We all know that we say things that we shouldn't say, but it makes you rethink everything when you realize that before God  (no matter if you believe it or not) we will have to give an accounting of every word we have ever spoken (idle or not-angered-jealous-hurt-and so on). Wow! The thought of that almost makes me sick to my stomach sometimes for all the cruel and nasty things I have said over the years. I have been trying to think about what comes out of my mouth before i...