It's been awhile, I know! I've stopped in here several times, throughout the week, but haven't taken the time to pen anything, nor have I wanted too! (don't ya' just love bold honesty?)  We are living completely by "faith" these days in many areas.  Very humbling, and even painful.  There are days when I feel close to God and know He's going to take care of us; there are days when I crumble and fall apart wondering if He will really do what He says He will do! Today is one of those days. . . . .enough said!

just follow. . . . .

I've been doing a Bible reading program, "read the Bible through in 90 days go here".  It was tough at first, but I've really been blessed by what I've read lately and just can't seem to get enough of the scripture.  I usually get up at 4:30am to begin my daily readings, as it takes almost an hour to read.   God has used so many of His stories to encourage me; causing my heart and mind to stay steady and firm in Him; His truths; His love; His arms. If God can see the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years He can certainly see our family through some "wilderness" experiences as well!  You should try it.    

a constant reminder

we are borrowing a van from our church for a few days, which is a HUGE blessing, however the van only has one slider and its not automatic.  This morning after Jacqueline got into the van she couldn't get the door closed; Brennan got out and helped her with it.  Once at the Junior High, she still had trouble with the door, and once again Brennan got out and opened it for her.  She said very grouchy, "I hate these doors, I just want our van back!" As Brennan was, again, closing the door he hollers out to Jacqueline, as she is walking away, "be slow to anger. . . ." Brennan's little phrase resonated in my heart today and was a great reminder that God is requiring of me "patience"  in all areas of my life.

eeww.......gross

last night as we were eating Colson ran into the kitchen to get something and came back and said, "mom, there's a huge hairball in the sink!" of which I replied, "oh gross we're trying to eat here," and I'm thinking to myself, "well there really can't be a hair ball in the sink, we don't have cats!" My curiosity got the best of me so I went into the kitchen to check out the "huge hair ball" in the sink!  I looked in and there was a used-up SOS pad all scrunched into some what of a ball! Too funny! after I told him what it was he said, "well it looks like a huge hairball to me!" Yup your right son, it sure does! I just love the thoughts of kids. . . .

AdOrAbLe . . . . . . .

We took a walk in the field behind our house yesterday; the day was simply too gorgeous to sit inside.  We always follow the path along the back side of this property, the lighting for pictures is perfect and I happened to see this old thing sitting by the pond! perfect picture setting!*

*(this was taken with my new cell phone!)

I received an email, this morning, from a good friend of mine (a former student in our youth ministry days) who is now serving as a missionary, along with her family, in a foreign country.  I always enjoy getting their ministry updates and today's was, not only a blessing but a piercing to my heart.  I find myself grumbling many days over the inconveniences of life; waiting in a line, being placed on hold, a slow driver, etc, you get the picture, right? typical frustrations that can irritate, causing my focus to be completely off kilter.  My friend was sharing a story about the frustrations they face in a tough country and how they played out in her life; she is after all human like we are; yet God chose to use that frustration to bring His word home to her.  Here is a short exert of what she shared about a frustrating and long experience of waiting in a line, with her husband and 6 young children:

"Often things that in America would be quick and simple are unnecessarily difficult and frustrating here. And this applies to many aspects of life here.  After our registration experience I asked God to forgive me and told Him that I simply cannot represent Him well when I am in situations like that. I had lost any platform from which to share the gospel due to my anger and impatience. Often situations in which we mingle with the people provide opportunities for witnessing, but on this day I would have died of embarrassment had I been asked by any of the others in line, “Why are you here in this country anyway?” “Oh, well, uh, I am here to share with you how Christ can change your life”. I know that that is indeed true—I cannot represent Him well. God has to
empower me through His Holy Spirit at ALL times to live and to respond rightly—when I am in a foreign
registration line, on the bus being yelled at by a rude person (another fun experience), or in our home as we
deal with just the ordinary frustrations of life. Will you please pray for our family that we will be enabled by His power to be a shining example of Jesus’ love, even in those situations that are a special challenge to us?"

How often do I find myself looking just like the world? how often do my actions reflect those of Christ in situations that are unpleasant? I was humbled and convicted, by this story, because I tend to take the wrong path so quickly and not look for the ways God can use me, even in the frustrating and irritating circumstances.  I pray God can continue to show me the areas that need some good deep-cleaning in my life and my soul, no matter how painful or embarrassing!

my own personal assistant. . . .

Every Monday/Wednesday/Friday I do an intense cardio Kickboxing workout with a few of my friends from church.  Of course I take the kids with me; Colson is pretty on-task with his reading and Tori plays for part of the time but the last 15 minutes of my workout, when we are on the mats, she usually comes and sits by me.  Today was just too precious not to share! As I was doing an ab workout she says to me, "mommy do you want some paper towel for your forehead?" I answered, "sure sweetie," and she promptly got up and came back with a piece of paper towel.  As I was working out she leans down and says, "mommy do you want me to wipe your face?" oh my gosh, be still my heart! she sat there for almost 15 minutes wiping my brow.  It was just so precious and tender and I thought, to myself, what a blessing and a gift she was; a real source of encouragement to me to, "keep working hard" so I can take better care of her and the rest of my children, physically and emotionally!