Thursday, February 26, 2009

Thankful Thursday


1.) I am thankful for rainbows that are a reminder of God's promises. And they are very beautiful!

2.) My sweet Grandma's wrinkly, saggy arms (she worked in the cotton fields when she was a young girl in KY, her skin was perfectly wrinkled from all the sun). When I was little I use to play with skin on the back of her arms - my mom was mortified, but it did not seem to bother G-ma. haha

3.) Family and Friends - Family that comes together and Friends that jump up to take my kids in a moments notice.

4.) My Hubby who just made me tea!

5.) My cute kiddos that make me laugh! We were asking the kids if they knew where each of them were born - Lily said......"mmmm......Walmart?"

I have so much to be thankful for! Thank you Jesus!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A Walk Home

I have been trying to come up with the words to describe Monday night. None seem to do the experience justice.

Monday morning as I was fasting and praying for my family - the phone rang. It was my sister and she said that Grandma was not doing well and she thought I should know. Now I must tell you about my Grandma....

When I was little I use to call her Mom, I was always with her. Looking back I can not imagine a child being more loved than I was by my Grandma. My Grandma was amazing - loss of words again - blurry eyes - hang in there with me - I have to get it out.

She was the ideal Grandma in every way from cooking to sewing to constant kindness and love. But what keeps coming to mind is the gift of time she gave. She ALWAYS had time for me. She ALWAYS seemed pleased to be with me and up for a round of matching cards or a puzzle. I am sure she could have found other things to do but I never knew that. She was always there waiting with open arms. I remember playing in the yard and I would look over and she would be standing at the window or sliding glass doors just watching me. She always seemed present, not distracted. I am so thankful to God for her!

Silent servant, that is what she was. She was always in the word - always seeking God and deep into a bible study, not out of routine but joy and excitement - her eyes always lit up when you asked her what she was learning. Faithful servant - always behind the scenes - doing whatever anyone needed and not just doing it but doing it with excellence!

I could tell you so much - my head is swimming - I am sure I will add more as my mind begins work again. But back to Monday morning.........

My sis called and I called a friend to see if she could watch the kids. She said YES (thank you Teresa!) - I had nothing on the calender (another miracle) and the car was even full of gas! I said OK God please stop me if I am not suppose to go - G-ma lives 4 hours away. 2 hours later I was on the road.

As I was driving, it was raining - perfect fit for my mood - I never enjoyed driving in rain so much. As I was driving I saw six or seven full rainbows - end to end perfect and solid. One was so bright in my windshield I could not look directly at it! I picked my phone up to take pics of it but the pic does not do it justice. Coinsedence - no way! God was showing me He was with me, He is in control and I can trust Him. I was in awe!! I am in awe!! I called my sis and told her about the rainbows. As she was leaving her house to go to G-ma's there was a rainbow filling her windshield too. Again, God was showing her He was in this!

I got to G-ma's and got to spend time just touching her, telling her I loved her, thanking her for being the best G-ma I could ever have. I read a few Psalms but mostly just looked at her and thanked God for her life. She looked so peaceful and sweet. I am so thankful for those hours!

My mom (G-ma's only child) was franticly trying to get a flight to G-ma. It was a painful wait for her - I am sure if she could have asked the captain to go fast she would have but again God was in control - Praise Him!

G-ma was beginning to fade, I was in bed with her and had my hand on her chest. As my mom opened the door G-ma's heart beat it's last beat - I am not exaggerating - I had my hand on her chest - I felt it! God allowed G-ma to stay for mom to have that moment. I have so many details to add - like mom running down the hall (she had no idea)! Oh God You are so in the details of your children!

I felt like I was given a gift from God. I felt like I got to walk her home. Thank you Jesus!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Redeemer House Update

Update on The Redeemer House kids with malaria - My mother-in-law sent this in an e-mail this morning:

They all got treatment for their malaria, and they are all much better, except Deo, who still has a ways to go, but he is also recovering. Thank you for praying. I was really worried! God answered our prayers.

Now we need to pray that Margaret and Gracious will do what it takes (complete a short training session) so they can get mosquito nets for the children!


Thank you who prayed! Praise God!

Bow Shoot

Thought I would share some pics from today! Daddy and the boys went to the local bow shoot.
Too Cute!
















Handsome Boys!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

What is reality?

I have had those that I love, struggle with the thought of us adopting. Justin and I have an amazing peace that God has given us through out this. Not to say it does not make us sad but really what it has done is drive us to our knees. I will stay there about this until things change. If you would like to join please do!

One thing that I keep hearing is that, this is not reality. Some think this is not the right way to raise the birth children I have - that I am abandoning them with my unrealistic "idea."

First off, I am so thankful that each time I go to God's word about this, I walk away with a peace that so surpasses my understanding. I am not interested in doing this without a pure heart before God - first and foremost. This IS a step of faith. What does God's word say about taking a step of faith? I think you have to look at what faith is - " Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 Certain of what we do not see! God asks his children over and over again to do things that do not make sense - please read Hebrews 11. I guess what God has shown me is that I am not the first child to step out and, in that step, have people be confused, frustrated and think I am crazy! Oh how I am thankful for God's word because He is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God's word IS reality! It has been around for a while and is the only perfect truth. Praise Him! You cannot say you believe in God and not his word.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many will enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (NIV)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Thankful Thursday


1.) Truth which is God's word!
2.) itunes and all free messages/sermons I can download. If you have any you recommend please share. I love it - cleaning my kitchen......click, and I am being fed God's word! Fun!
3.) My husband who works his behind off!
4.) My family - all my family!
5.) My children and their hearts.
6.) Tea - Ashton loves brewing tea for us.

TRUTH!

I hunger for TRUTH! I can not get enough truth lately! The more I get the more I want. This world is wicked and evil and distorts the truth every way it can. I hunger for truth.

I have had a huge revelation in my life lately. A verse I have read and memorized has taken on a whole new meaning.

Matthew 6:33 (New International Version)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.


I use to focus on the second half and be excited by that. But now I see the words seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. Seeking is an active thing we do - not something that just hits us on the head. It amazes me how this has become alive and active in me. Every time I am struggling with something and I SEEK God - I look to him through his word - I find him. Then I read all these verses that talk about seeking him and I am feel like I am getting it! How cool that it has been there all along.

I want to encourage anyone that may be struggling with something - Seek God in His Word. Seek Him - it is an active thing - it is something you do and you will find Him. I think about how if I wanted a new pair of jeans I would seek to find them - I would not just expect them to show up on my door or Justin to pick some up for me. I would have to seek to find them. So I encourage you to seek Him - find Him and be renewed!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Please Pray!


Please pray for the children in The Redeemer House Orphanage. They all have malaria and 2 of them are very sick. The mama of the house (Gracious) has it as well. Please lift them up today. Please pray for healing and guidance for Gracious and my mother-in-law as they are working on getting the children medical help. I will update as I know the details.


Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thankful Thursday!


I am thankful for so much!

1.) My super sweet hubby that made me furniture. Not to mention how cool it has been this last week to see what God is doing in his life. He was saying the other day that he was wanting to write what God has been showing/teaching him so maybe I will get him to blog!

2.) God to meet me every time I ask!

3.) New friends! I have met so many new Mama's in the last few weeks. We were able to do two play-dates this week and enjoy some "Mom talk." I have gotten out of the habit of doing play-dates because of the older kiddos but now realize how much I have missed it and how much Lily needs it. Being with other Mama's always spurs me on to better parenting, new ideas, creative ways of discipline, etc.

4.) Christian Praise Songs - Radio stations like K-Love - So many of these beautiful songs have become prayers of my heart. I am so thankful for their (christian artist, broadcast people)obedience to sing/produce them.

5.) My kiddos! Always!

I could go on and on.................. Thank you Jesus for all that you have blessed me with. Thank you, thank you, thank you for I am not worthy. I love you Lord! Amen

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Heritage

I have been thinking a lot about the legacy or heritage that I want to pass down and heritage that others have left. I find it so interesting that whenever I think of a beautiful heritage or legacy it NEVER has to do with worldly wealth. I think about my Grandpa Vaughan's parents and the legacy of family and love. They were very poor, yet extremely rich in family and love. Because of that I have LOVED hearing stories, retelling the stories and instilling that heritage in my children.

I feel like we have recently passed a fork in the road of our life and making a purposeful decision to follow Christ and seek the will of God for our lives (the plans HE has for us)- to go from a stand of faith to a walk of faith. Very different and so much better. This is not to say there will not be trials or hardships - Acts 14:22...."'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God'..." Paul and Barnabas were trying to encourage the new believers. So comforting! I ask God why my hardship has to be this way or that and it occurred to me that if it was different then it really would not be a hardship. So I wait upon the Lord. I stand on the "confident hope" Christ has given me (Romans 12:12) and work on being "patient in trouble" and pray, pray, pray. Patience can only be taught/learned in the time trial. I pray I am learning and growing in this area. This is the heritage I want to leave my children. That when trials or hardships come our way that we serve a God that is bigger than the circumstance - there is a bigger picture here. He is our refuge and strength (too many verses to list on that one! Yay!). He will not leave you in the midst of the storm.


Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Legacy

LEGACY

I'm watching what you do
I'm hearing what you say
I'll be making these decisions
Somewhere along the way.

Whatever roads I travel
Whichever lands I see
Whether we are near or far
You'll always be with me.

For everything you say
And everything you do
Claims its place within my life
A gift to me from you.

So will it be of honor
Or will it be in vain
This life you live before me
This gift I'm to obtain?

I pray that you are thinking
Please take the time to know
Whether with honor or with vanity
Down life's road I am to go


I read this poem and I wanted to add to my Thankful Thursday. I am so thankful for the legacy that has been left to me through my family. My grandparents served the Lord with all their hearts, and about 8 years ago I had a cousin bring his youth group to my church and as we sat their together and listened to the song about a legacy I realized I am on the path I am because of their obedience to God and so was he (my cousin)! I am so thankful!

Thankful Thursday!

I am taking a bloggy friends lead and starting Thankful Thursday. A day to share what I am thankful for. I believe there is great power in being thankful/grateful. God says it in His word over and over - be thankful, come to me with thanksgiving in you heart, in all things be grateful. So I think this is fun AND powerful!

I am thankful for so many things but I will write the things I have been thinking about this week. I am thankful for The Word of God. I really mean it when I say I do not know what I would do with out His daily direction. The renewing of my mind needs to happen daily.

I am thankful for my children who teach me everyday.

I am thankful for blogging and bloggy friends - I think the Internet can be used for good or evil (like in everything) and I love reading about the trials and triumphs of God's children. I can relate and it is encouraging.

I am thankful for mornings with my hubby! I am thankful that he is seeking God's will and has taken the spiritual leadership role in our family. I am so thankful that we can stay up talking until 2 am and still have to force ourselves to stop talking and go to bed. I am so thankful - thank you Jesus!

I am so thankful that Ashton and Hunter (on their own) try and get up early and read their bibles with us. They joined us this morning and nothing warms a Mama's heart like watching her sleepy kids come walking out of their rooms with bible in hand - not looking for cartoons but looking for that quiet time with us!

I am ALWAYS thankful for coffee.

I am thankful for the Joyce Meyers program and that I get to "go to church" with my sisters everyday! How cool is that, that we all live in different states yet are being fed the same message Romans 15 : 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, Our conversations have become so rich.

Have a great day! What are you thankful for?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Weekend Fun!

We had Stacie and the kiddos down for Fri. night and all day Sat. The kids all had fun.



Tate is too cute!


It is moments like this that just warm my heart - Dawson was helping the birthday boy put his boots on - oh too cute! I desire to have my children have the servants heart and oh how they do!Teresa has a paraffin wax thing for your hands and feet so J and Stac waxed! Haha