Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Happy Birthday my darling eight year old!


Pancakes
Presents outside her door
Treats from siblings
Hugs and kisses from Daddio
Special phone calls

Party plans and cupcakes
Family party
Friends celebrating

Oh, and her kitten!!! Yes, the early bday present!

Oh what a joy to celebrate our children when a birthday arrives. Today we enjoy her changing again and soaking in the moments of a birthday!

17 - Did I say 17?




There are seventeen cousins here! Three sisters and seventeen children! Awesome and what a blessing. Now, my dear brother...you need to add your numbers here!

To my famiy. You are a treasure to behold. We traverse through times that are tough,  we laugh until we cry and we marvel how great our God is!


Here is to another week of creating memories....

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell within..."
Psam 24: 1

Sunday, August 21, 2011

She is turning eight, she is a gift!


Her birthday arrived early and somewhat unexptected. A kitten has always been on the top of her list of must-haves (well a horse too, that would take a bit more than I can handle right now!). We have had plans but it just never was the right time. Well, the weekend came and so did the right time. From  a fruit farm on the way up north this week seven week old doll of a kitten lay sweetly sleeping in a cage wih a hand written sign that said FREE!! We both walked up to her, touched her and we both knew. However, it was not time to take her then. There was a period of waiting - two days. I was in touch with my hubby (out of town) to confirm this furry kitty.was a sure thing! We walked out and in the arms of a very sweet, caring and diligent girl.
Welcome to our home. Her name has changed a few time! For now we affectionatly call her Brownie!








Sweet and precious! I will always remember this moment!


Friday, August 19, 2011

Beginning with history, rough edges and His Word


I am in awe as I capture this layer of history. Book upon book tells me a story. A story of commitment to God's unfailing word with worn pages, rough edges weathered and truly it is beauty to behold.


This is my mom. Those that know me understand that this is part of me...book upon book, many now worn and weathered (mostly because I leave it outside rain comes unexpectedly or coffee spills!!). My mother, what a gift. We sit and pray over the little things, like a baby sleeping through the night, a preschooler that is whining, a young boy on the verge of manhood, family members that need salvation. Wow, she prays and things happen. She is a testimony to interceeding and standing in the gap. She prays, she reads His word and His will IS done. Blessings upon blessings. My mother, she is that blessing to me....

She has given me a heritage of holding on to the Lord on ways that one can not be taught. I watched, I learned and I have soaked it in. I want to live what she breathes in daily. She lives for His glory, His purpose and the photo for me says it all....she is my beautiful, wonderfully wise mother! I will always remember her bible with more marks than I can count, just like her mother! Verse after verse underlined and notes made, notes tucked in that slip out when the bible is opened!




I begin...
My school year based on history to walk me through today and embrace the future.

I begin....
With our verse for the year found in Proverbs 19:21

"Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

This verse has always meant so much to me in life. I have so many plans and thoughts that are scattered and thoughtless. So many desires that are not the will of God. I want the purpose of the Lord to stand, not my purposes. That is hard sometimes. Those hard times are a measure for me though. I look back and see that my plans really were not His good and perfect will. Lessons learned.

My prayer for all five is that in their journey they will taste and see that the Lord is good and that we may have it all together for a moment. All the plans in place, but if it is not His will the purpose will not stand. It is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. He is our rock our fortress and our deliverer. Lord, I give them all to you, hold them and draw them to You....











I am here because I was created to be, right now this moment.
I have a rich spiritual heritage that has given me a blessed rock to stand on. This has given me the strength to give my all now.




Today I choose to let go of exasperation, irritation and the anger that corrupts and destroys. I am accountable and desire to be what God has called me to be, for them....daily unselfishly serving. I serve a Holy, loving heavenly father that knows what He is doing!! I can call on Him in my weakness and know that I am surrounded with loved ones on this journey, thank goodness!!






My beautiful mother



Five young ones hold on to me for guidance and love.
I am committed. I will not be shaken.

Our theme song this summer:

(part of the song. I had one beautiful girl sing me the words and the young preschooler knew them all too!!) It is powerful for us because daily we can get knocked down and the only way we can get back up is Jesus! Plus, we love to sing and dance to his music!! AAh music is so great, another gift!!

We lose our way
Get back up again
It's  never to late
To get back up again
One day you will shine again

You may be knocked down
But not out forever.

Okay, not my words!! This is from Toby Mac the album is Tonight and the song is Get Back Up




As I started this blog, first one in a month! I end with arm of love....

Arms that surround my baby are the same arms that cradled me. What a gift it is to share my babies with the one that gave me life!



This school year is the Lord's, not mine. I have let it go and determined to let Him have His way. About time hey!!???