Reflecting....

-Reflecting on life itself. How short it is and how we don't know from one moment to the next what is going to happen.
*I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

-Reflecting on how I don't think to say "If the Lord is willing" enough.
*Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:15

-Reflecting on how the children are growing up so quickly.
*Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

-Reflecting on "love" -ing, everyone. What that truly means...
*The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalms 33:5

-Reflecting on being joyful always.
*Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

...PRAYING FOR MY DEAR 82 YEAR OLD FRIEND WHO, IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL...PRAYING FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

*"Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32

Happy Birthday to my 10 year old!

I can't believe it has been 10 years. It is truely bitter sweet. Watching children grow up is such a blessing. While I call him my "baby" opps did I say that?? I mean "big boy", I look into his eye's and I see that once adorable little one cooing at me....and then he speaks and I realize I was day dreaming. He had a good day today and for that I am happy. One of my favorite picture's.
With our dog "Missy".
He loves kitten's.
"BUZZ RYAN LIGHT YEAR" to the rescue. He use to LOVE dressing up in his favorite character's.


He wouldn't allow me to cheer him on while he was swimming it distracted him, he said. :) I was allowed to take a picture though.

If you look closely (second one in from the front) you will see him about to dive in and compete in the free style. He was just 5 year's old here and I couldn't believe how great he could swim.

Love my elder's

I have a DEAR friend who is 82 year's of age and I appreciate her friendship as a matter of fact our whole family just loves her dearly. We had her over for dinner tonight and she loves to play with the children. She brought over an old fashioned game called "pick up sticks" and "jacks" it was cute. I remembered those games. My younger son didn't exactly want to play jacks the right way he preferred to spin the jacks in stead of pick them up. :)

Later as he played with his little action figure "men"(armored), it was so innocent she looked at him and said he's in the bible! Randy helped her figure out which scripture she was recalling and it goes like this...

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:10-16

As she read...it dawned on me that this scripture was surely for me! I had one of those day's today, actually it started last night and hung on all morning long! My heart was cut and wide open for the Lord's word. I have to remember who I belong to and who I do everything that I do "for".

What a blessing this evening has been.

Looking for community service opportunities?

I am always looking for ways of serving/volunteering the community as a family and I came across this site:

www.usaservice.org

You just input your zip code and it will show you what is going on in your area. Or if you would like to start a group just go to that web-site.

Have you heard?

I just read on another blog that it will soon be illegal to buy used children's clothes and toy's etc.

Check out the link.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

I really hope this doesn't really apply to thrift or second hand stores.

Could this really be?

I really don't like the indication's of this and how awful it will be for the Goodwill who hire people that are in need of a second chance.

Thankful for having a tender heart

I've recently learned about a little 7 year old Russian girl in need of a family. Apparently her mother passed away. She is currently in Atlanta and has 2 weeks left here in the states,to get adopted.

....My heart wants to save her! To give her a family that she can call her own. And I can have my daughter. I wish it were that simple,but it isn't. If I always listened to my heart as I am so lead to do I would react simply on emotion's and not wisdom from the Holy Spirit!

I am thankful for having a heart that cries out for children and people. I use to fight being so sensitive, but I've learned to appreciate how God has made me and I realize that there is a time and a place for my "gift". :)

So happy to have a heavenly father that I can call on anytime, anywhere and for any reason!

What am I to do?

Lil Chris is such a sweet addition to our family and we love him sooooo much.

Currently, I am trying to "remember" what it was like to have a toddler in the home. This guy is VERY busy~ Active~ Verbal~ and fun,happy and dare I say LOUD!

He is determined to be in the spot light no matter what (ha,ha,ha). I can see him now up on the stage performing a Christmas play or singing, or even PREACHING! I don't know what the Lord's plans are for him but he is obviously going to "SPEAK" in some capacity. The child talks.....A L L D A Y .....
I am serious, I know it doesn't seem possible for a 1 year old to do that but he does! He is constantly talking to all of us,now that he can say our names...I'm Ma or MOM, RJ is r-da, Ross is Ra,Ra, Ryan is Ian and of course Randy is DA or DA,DA.

Today, he said Mom ju (juice) out, and handed me his cup! I about fell out of my seat! He is putting sentences together. I love that he is learning to say words.

He is special and we have the privilege to be his immediate family.

I am challenged right now as to what to do with him and I keep thinking he needs a play mate (am I crazy?). He does so well with other children around, yeah, my boy's are around but they have school work to do and honestly they get him all hyped up and there is no settling him down after they all play together. Y'all pray for me in this house of all "men". My youngest reminded me of that at the dinner table. I told him that I was WELL aware that I've long ago been out numbered.

...I guess I could count the 3 hens, and 1 dog that are female with me that totals 5. They can't talk to me though.. There's the 1 rooster and 5 men! Still out numbered! :)

I love my house of men and they love me too! I wouldn't trade them for the world and we are having fun. Actually, the Lord is teaching me how to have fun through them. I'm still praying for direction as how to "do" school effectively with a toddler in the house.