What will I be when I grow up?

For years I have went back and forth on different career choices. I married at a very young age,16, and we began having children pretty quickly. By the time we were married 1 year, I was already 7 months pregnant with our 1st son, Christian Jr. Back then all I can remember wanting out of life was to be a wife and a mother. I didn't waste any time becoming just that!
I have been married for 16 years now and have 4 beautiful children (also several children I have "adopted" as my own). I am not any closer to making a decision on a career than I was 16 years ago. What I do know is that I have a heart for today's youth. I see so many children who are raising themselves while their parents try to work just to put food on the table and keep a roof over there head, sometimes falling short with one or the other, maybe even both.
My husband and I know all too well what it takes to try and take care of a large family. Thank God we have a family that has been very supportive of me staying home to raise our children. We have not raised our children completely on our own means or I would have never been able to stay at home. No, it has not always been a walk in the park but it has allowed us to be more involved in our children's lives and me to be the mother I always dreamed of being. This life style couldn't work for everyone but I am thankful for all the time I have been given to be a part of my children's lives.
I have been a substitute teacher for the past 10 1/2 years which has also allowed me to be at school while my kids are in school and to see just who their friends are. It has opened up another way for me to be completely involved in their education as well to see who they spent their time with away from home. Being a substitute teacher has also showed me that not only are my kids important but I also have grown to love helping all children.
All this leads me to this question, what will I be when I grow up? I have been to the community college here in the town I live in. My first time I went to be a Nail Technician. Long story short, I much rather GET my nails done then DO someone's! My second time around I went for Microcomputer Specialist, which I LOVED but I ended up having to take a break because my husband had to go out of town to work. I have time to go back now but not so sure that is what I really want to do. I love working on computers and doing office work but I much rather just spend time with my kids.
I have a Wednesday night children's group that I teach at my church. We have been attending there regularly for a little over 2 years now. The more time I spend there teaching children about God's love, the more I am convinced that I should be doing something in the church. I am eager to learn more about Christ and in turn share EVERYTHING that I am learning with someone else.
When I was a part of a youth group and started going through certain things, I was made to feel unwelcome and had nowhere else to turn. I was left to figure things out for myself. It was a horrible feeling to be abandon by a group of people I loved so much. As I have been working the youth of my church and our community I really see a need to show these kids love. No matter what they are going through, they need someone to tell them they are loved. God sent Jesus to die for us, His only son. What an act of love from our Heavenly Father.
I am not sure if there is such a career but I will strive to find it. It might be in the form of a counselor or maybe even a children/youth pastor, and I will strive to seek God to show me the way. No matter how old we get, it is never too late to become exactly what God intended us to be.
Lord, pave the way for me. I ask that you open the doors necessary for me to become exactly what you want me to be. I want the youth of this community to be touched by you and if you see fit for me to be a vessel, use me. Show me the way...

All about me...

I started to put this in my All About Me section but of course it was too long...typical long winded me :) 

Christian Jr. will be 15 (Yikes! driving begins!) May 26th and is currently a Freshman at Wayne County High School. He enjoys all types of sports and is the jokester of our family. I can always count on him to bring a smile to my day. He is loved by many people and has the best smile! (I wish he would let me Capture it more often in my pictures) Of all the times I visit school with him or just meet with people who have been around him they always say what a great friend he is and how respectful he is. I hope he will always know how very proud I am that he is my son...my oldest baby! 

Nathaniel, or we like to call him Nate, is our second born and he is 12 years old. He is finishing up 6th grade at Martha Puckett Middle School. He also enjoys all types of sports and is probably our most serious child. He takes school very seriously and I find him to be brilliant! (No I'm not biased much) He is an overachiever and a perfectionist. I know he is going to be a success in anything he chooses to do with his life. I am so proud of everything he has accomplished so far!

Gage is our youngest son and he is 10 years old. This year he was home-schooled but next year will be in the 5th grade at James E. Bacon Elementary School. Gage is another one of our boys that enjoys all sports. He has also taken some karate lessons and has a yellow belt. Gage is full of love! (He gets it from his Mama) Everything he does, he does to the extreme! He holds nothing back and you always know where he stands on things. He has been given prophesy over his life many times that he will be someone great for the kingdom of God and I pray that my husband and I, as parents, live up to the expectations to give him every opportunity to shine for Christ. I can not wait to see what God has in store for Gage's life. Whatever it may be I know that he will give it all his heart.

Last but not least, is our Princess Gabrielle (Or we like to call her Gabby) will be 8 years old in 2 days! Gabby is a Princess in every sense of the word. She is beautiful both inside and out. She is Mama's little sidekick! She enjoys getting her nails done and pampering of any kind. She is definitely all girl. When I was pregnant with her everyone said she would be a tomboy since she had 3 older brothers. I know my mother-in-law rebuked this with every prayer in her! She wanted a girlie-girl for a granddaughter and that is exactly what she is. Gabby has a love for singing and it is my prayer that she will perfect that gift and use it to serve God.

So there it is...All about me. You have just read about the most important people in my life. Some people might say that it wasn't about me, it was about my family...They are a reflection of me because everything I have in me, I put into them. I love my family more than anything and when you see them...you see me.