Monday night prayer

God is so faithful!! Every Monday night (except for the occasional holiday or vacation) I go out to church for prayer. My friend, Laura and I have been meeting for I guess four years now. We have seen God do some awesome things (in our personal lives as well as in the body of believers). Occasionally, we have some friends come out and join us. For the past year, our friend, Donna, has been coming out. I can not express how great these meetings have been because no matter if there are four, three or just two of us we know that we are not alone. We know that our prayers are joined with the many prayers of saints from all over.

I mention all of this to let you know - if you have a prayer concern that you would like lifted up - let me know. Just simply post your name. You don't have to tell any specifics to me, God knows your needs, your heart's desires. We will lift you up and pray in agreement with you. There is power in prayer!!

I'm off to pray.
You are blessed and highly favored,
Amanda

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!!

The Living Faith children were invited to in Elm City today. The residents were putting on a play and wanted the children to be apart of it. I know the kids were a blessing to the residents. The residents were blessings to us. There was singing, scripture readings and reciting and praise & worship dancing. These people have a heart to worship. I went up to several of the residents after the program to thank them and encourage them. I told one lady to keep singing to the Lord, she said, "I'll keep singing as long as I have breath. If I get where I can't sing or speak, I'll wave my arms."
The love of God poured out from each one of them. It was a wonderful afternoon of unity and love all in the mighty name of Jesus!!

My sweet husband!!

Most of you know that my husband is sweet. Here is just another example. He got up early this morning and went to get breakfast for the kids (and himself). He went to Flo's for biscuits and to The Wilson Doughnut Shoppe for doughnuts. I just think that is the sweetest thing (sweet - doughnuts, pardon the pun it wasn't intended, I promise). The boys wanted biscuits but Anna Gracen wanted her favorite - lemon filled doughnut. So, being the good Daddy he is - he went to both places. Everyone was happy. Anna Gracen got her doughnuts and Wooten & Christian got their favorite - bacon & cheese biscuits. Tom did well also - he got his favorites tenderloin & cheese biscuit and doughnut holes. He is heading back to the doughnut shoppe because he walked out without his two chocolate covered creme puffs. (I'm sticking to Smart Start cereal with fruit).

Lights, camera, action!!

Better blog when it's quiet...

I figured I had better take the time and blog now while it is quiet. All to soon (literally - check out the time stamp) the sun will rise and so will five energetic kids (Charlie & Lindsey Graham spent the night). I love watching the kids play with their friends - the interaction is so cool. Their laughing is a wonderful sound.


We had quite an adventure this afternoon at MeMa and PaPa's house. We saw a cat go under their house and then come out again with not one, not two, not three, but 6 kittens following behind. Fortunately for PaPa, Animal Control was a street over and was able to come soon after he called. The kittens had retreated back under the house. The officer left a cat carrier for us to try and collect them. MeMa and PaPa had dinner plans and the officer went on his way. Anna Gracen, Lindsey and I prayed that we would be able to get the kittens to come out easily. The momma cat needed some nourishment. She is a very sweet cat. We baited her and the kittens with some deli ham. One by one the curious little ones came out to see what was going on. One by one (once it was two at a time) Lindsey grabbed the kittens. Anna Gracen then took them and handed them to me to put in the carrier. The girls were so sweet. Lindsey grabbed them (because they were fast) and would then look at the kitten and apologize to him or her. I explained to the girls that they had helped save the kittens' and their momma's lives. They would get the food they needed and a safe place to sleep - together as a family. We prayed that they would all find loving homes.


The last kitten that Lindsey nabbed, bit her on the thumb. Lindsey handled it like a champ. Anna Gracen helped Lindsey wash it and put peroxide on it. We filed a report with the officer (as is required with all animal bites). I was complimenting the girls on a job well done. Lindsey said, "We were able to get them so fast because you prayed." How awesome to be 12 and 9 years old and know the power of prayer.


Let us remember that NOTHING is too big or too small to lift up in prayer. If it concerns us, we are to lay it at the Lord's feet for He cares for us.

OBX

Here's the family pic. Pretty good looking group if I do say so myself. The week went by way too fast. Here are some memories from the week:

1.) Daddy and I getting stomped at 80's Trivia Pursuit by Bennett. He is like Rainman with all the facts he knows (things that I'm not sure people should know). Now I understand why he never had to bring books home from school to study. We'll never forget what body part Nicholas Cage's character was missing in "Moonstruck" (will we guys?)
2.) Smelling breakfast cooking each morning. Thank you, Mimi. Our idea of vacation is NOT cooking; her idea of vacation is having the opportunity to cook.
3.)Wooten's answer to the "Battle of the Sexes" question: How do you stop the run in pantyhose? WOOTEN: ducktape.
4.) Sydney's Free Willy float and the way she (in her Johnston County accent) said, "Willy".
5.) Carson's eyes when he saw Kay with a bag of chips.
6.) Carson going to the beach for the first time and eating sand!
7.) Sydney's 4th birthday party - going on an adventure with Dora the Explorer. Her reaction to the party and dancing to the "We did it" song.
8.) Anna Gracen helping me set up the Dora adventure. We had fun setting up.
9.) Bennett's reaction to the price of the Dora cake.
10.) Dinner at Darrell's Restaurant in Maneto - Wooten's first taste of soft shell crab.
11.) Currituck lighthouse, Buxton lighthouse and Cape Hatteras lighthouse (Wooten & Tom went up the Hatteras lighthouse)
12.) Watching the movie "The Holiday" with Tom and Jennifer.
13.) Watching "National Treasurer" with "T", Wooten & Tom.
14.) Shopping with the girls at the outlet mall - passing on the Coach purses and getting great deals on the Bass purses.
15.) Anna Gracen having a fit to go to Dairy Queen.
16.) Wooten, Christian and Tom going to Red's Army and Navy Surplus almost every day - great dog tags.
17.) Daddy ("T") cooking fish Friday night - too good!! Tasting rare tuna for the first time - quite tasty!
18.) Playing Guitar Heroes on the big screen in the theater room. Bennett & Wooten really ROCK!
19.) Finally finishing a song on Guitar Heroes - getting booed off the stage isn't fun.
20.) Watching Wooten calmly complete song after song like a pro.
21.) The kids playing in the pool with the water guns with "T" and Uncle Bennett.
22.) Mimi and Anna Gracen baking cookies.
23.) Having Sydney crawl up in my lap. "Playing" the guitar with Sydney.
24.) Seeing the smile on Carson's face each morning when I said, "Hey, Carson."
25.) Carson blowing kisses and giving high fives.
26.) Watching Wooten play with Sydney - he was so patient and kind with her.
27.) Watching Anna Gracen taking care of Sydney and Carson. Loved it when she made Sydney some chocolate milk.
28.) Christian changing clothes several times a day - going from surfer dude to Army guy.
29.) Climbing the dunes at Jockey's Ridge and then running down them. Love the "Dune Hugger" t-shirts Anna Gracen & I bought.
30.) Eating breakfast at The Dunes - great buffet!!

Life is better at the beach or life is a bear!

Life is better at the beach! I must have seen that saying hundreds of times last week. We had a blast at the OBX. I told Tom it is a shame to have lived that close and not have visited before now.

Our vacation started out very exciting - Wooten spotted a bear walking towards the highway. Tom immediately pulled over for me to get some pics. Well those pics are worth about $108. Why $108? $100 for the emergency room visit and $8 for the prescription. No, I wasn't attacked by the bear. I was attacked (okay not really attacked but bitten) by some flying thingy (I didn't actually see it). It bit me on my left hand on the pinkie. The initial itch quickly turned into my pinkie, ring finger, middle finger and hand swelling (I wish I had gotten a pic of that). Tom said, "Too bad it didn't sting you in the boobs". Now that is compassion!

As the night went on the swelling continued up my arm. Tom and I headed to the ER at 10:00. Boy did we have God’s favor. The people there were extremely nice and helpful. We were out of there right at 11:00. How’s that for service? The doc said it was just an allergic reaction to the bug sting. They gave me prednisolone (steroid) and Benadryl. Then a steroid pack to take for the next few days. What a way to start the vacation. You know me – I was in there praying and declaring healing in the entire hospital. God had me there for some reason.

More beach stories to come.......

First Post

Ta Da!! Here is the first post! I can't believe I have decided to embark on this adventure. When I told Tom that I was starting a blog, he said, "Isn't that what you said you would never do?" I really should learn to never say never. I have been inspired. I have been a lurker (someone who reads blogs and doesn't comment), but have since been reformed. I enjoy reading about what is going on with my family and friends and sometimes complete strangers (who feel like friends because I have read so much about their lives).

I entitled the blog - Doughertys' Digest. I have always liked Readers' Digest. I like the variety -the mix of informative stories with humor mixed in. That's what I want this blog to be - informative and humorous. Since I like to talk alot that shouldn't be a problem. Maybe just maybe I won't talk as much if I'm blogging. One can only hope, right?