Reading up a storm....

So our oldest, SJ is reading up a storm. The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham are our favorites. She is loving being able to read all on her own without much help from Mom and Dad. I am so proud of her! She is becoming a great helper around the house with laundry and dishes too. God has blessed me with 2 great girls and I am loving every minute of being Mom.

Friends are a gift...

from God and I am so grateful God has blessed our family with some wonderful friends. Here's a few photos of our time together this weekend. Our kids don't see each other very often but it only takes a few minutes for them to warm up and remember just how much they love each other.

God does exist....here's proof!

God is good...

and knows how to bless His children. I am grateful today that He sent a precious saint into my life at just the right time. I was in desperate need of guidance and fresh counsel when He escorted her to me...and it all happened within hours of my cry for help! I am overwhelmed at His love and grace toward me! I am grateful for her willingness to listen and obey His voice. Have you been prompted by the Spirit and neglected to respond in faith and obedience? Don't dismiss His prompting, you may just be the very person God uses to bless someone else! Listen and obey!

Nai Nai's Girls

So, I was browsing through my web album and came across these great pics. I guess in the busyness of life I forgot to share them. Two beautiful girls with their Fabulous Nai Nai. Enjoy Nai Nai!

Girls finally home

SC was ready to don her ballerina outfit and dance with Tippy!

New Adventure...

So, I'm gonna try to take more pictures for my Mom so that she won't be so sad when I talk to her on the phone. I have friends who are taking photographs each day and posting them to their blogs as a sort of Scrapbook of the year. So, I think I'll start...a little late maybe but you have to start sometime, right? So, here goes...this is from yesterday when my girls FINALLY got home from visiting their Nai Nai and Yei Yei....SC was glad to be in her ballerina costume and SJ was glad to see her puppies.....Enjoy Mom!

Check this out...

So, I saw this on a friend's blog and could not resist passing it along. If you have girls who love to twirl then you need to visit this site. Since Christmas is so close this might be a great place to find that perfect gift. I plan to shop myself and most importantly, all proceeds go toward bringing home their newest little girl from China, Mary Kate. Check it out and pray for this family!http://2000tutus.blogspot.com/p/shop.html

What is it about Fall...

that makes people feel melancholy? I even find myself falling into this emotional state at times. Cliff's message today was based on 2 Timothy 3 where Paul instructs Timothy to study the Word and that this Word is profitable for us. The Word teaches us, rebukes us, challenges us and saves us. We are to live by the very Word that is God-breathed. Our hope and our very life is dependent on the Word of God. Jesus reminds us of our sufficiency in the Word in Matthew 4 when Jesus responds to Satan's temptation, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The Word equips us for every good work, 2nd Timothy says. There are 2 things I want to convey through this blog post.

First, the Word of God is all I need to understand the Mind of God. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of a born again believer, God's Word will provide all I need to live Godly in this present age.
Secondly, Hebrews 10:23-25 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as we see the day approaching."
God expects us to depend completely on His Word and to encourage each other in the Word especially during these last days. Friends, we ARE living in the Last Days. We are on the brink of the end of this world as we know it. Our typical fleshly response is to depend on logic, good books, and common sense. God says depend on Me and not what you see. Trust Me, not what seems logical and makes the most sense. He also expects us to "not forsake the assembly of ourselves together". It is time to run to God's house and God's people and to assemble together and support one another. It's not time to play. It's not time to be lazy in our approach to the Word. It's time to be real and walk according to His statutes. It's time to instill in our children the Love of the Word. It's time to be wives who are submissive and be on our knees in prayer for our husbands. It's time to pray for our neighbors, our churches and our nation's leaders. It's time....

Beach Bound!

Yep! It's that time of year again! We are headed to Destin on Friday and we could not be more excited! Our summer was busy, busy and it's time for some R&R. We will be celebrating a lot this week too. SJ turns 6 on Friday so we will stop in Ridgeland, MS and visit with old friends while munching on a Five Guys Burger and Maggie Moos Ice Cream! We are thrilled to be able to visit with some of our dear friends again! It's been a very long time since we've had a chance to sit and chat if only for a couple hours. We will spend the night at my parents house and head out early Saturday morning for FL.
SC had a blast with her Nai Nai and Yei Yei, Meme, Aunt Becky and Uncle Stacy and cousins Regan and Ryan last weekend. She turned 3 and had a fabulous time doing it. I'll post pics soon. Just wanted to get in a post before the packing started. I'll take my computer to the beach and try to update as much as possible. For now it's "Cheeseburger in Paradise".....

Catch up...

So, let's see what's been happening around here?! I made the mistake of not purchasing School Supplies before I left for Nicaragua so it took several days and several stores in order to get all of SJ's pencils, crayons and glue for her first day of school. She was ready to go but a little apprehensive. After the first day, she was just fine. She loves learning and loves her teacher and has already read a book by herself! I am amazed at how fast they learn! She even asked me this morning if she was going to school today, Saturday! I just hope she keeps up this enthusiasm. Her Mom on the other hand, well, I could live without it. I was completely satisfied with my summer routine!

So, SC and I are now all alone every morning and I think SC really misses her sissy. We're getting to spend some good quality time together as I get in my walk/run...depending on the heat index! She gets very excited when I announce it's time to go pick up Sissy. SC also has a birthday coming up in 1 week. Three years old....hard to believe it's been that long. She is growing up so fast and knows so much. She is extremely excited about her Ariel Birthday. She's been very consistent with her requests for an Ariel birthday s0, guess what she's gonna get? We are all geared up for Ariel! I can't imagine life without my sweet SC! God always does the most amazing things when we trust Him!

Our family vacation is coming up soon and we will spend a few days resting from a very busy summer. We seem to pack so much into those few short weeks but it doesn't include rest. We are all in need of a change of scenery. To sum it all up, we are back! At least for a few days...

Home Sweet Home..

We are safely home from Quilali, Nicaragua. How awesome it was to serve my Saviour in this village! I will sum up our service with one word...RELATIONSHIP. God worked in the lives of many of our team members in such personal ways. I will never be able to know all that God did in each of them but I saw evidence of the Spirit's working. And, 117 Nicaraguan's now know Jesus as their personal savior and 70+ are back in a fellowship with Him.
Quilali is located in the Northern mountain region of Nicaragua, very near the Honduran border. Our bus trip took approximately 7 hours (we were anticipating 10 hrs!) and the scenery was beautiful. I have posted a couple pictures just to wet your appetite. I'll be posting an album soon. Time to hit the sack. Our wake up call came at a dim 3 am this morning...needless to say, I need a nap!

Nite for now....

Washing, Drying, Packing.....

So, I've just returned from a week-long stay in GA and now I'm washing and packing for our mission trip to Nicaragua next week. The girls (all 4, Rudy and Tippy too) will be staying with my folks while Cliff and I share the Gospel in Central America. We've received news that we may actually have FLUSHING TOILETS in this village. I shared this with our crew from HBC and they were thrilled! However, I'll believe it when I see it. We leave early Saturday morning so please be praying for us as we travel and serve out of the country. Our initial information sheet informed us we would be in the village of Quilali in the northern part of Nicaragua very near the Honduran border. We are told it is a very poor village and we are pretty sure there is no protestant church there. Please pray that Satan would not hinder the work and that hearts would be open to hear and receive the Word of Salvation. We are excited to be taking 2 new team members from HBC this year also. Please pray for them as they share their gifts with the people of Quilali and for God to speak to them and reveal Himself in a fresh and exciting way. So long for now....

Home Again...

I had a fabulous time visiting with my friend in GA last week but as always, it's really good to be home. My girls are needing some "restructuring" after spending the last 7 days with their Nai Nai and Yei Yei. To put it bluntly, they are ROTTEN! But, I wouldn't have it any other way. I never worry about them in their care and they LOVE being with them. SJ was a bit, well, let's say, overwhelmed when her Daddy picked them up last night.....wailing and gnashing of teeth was heard by the majority of Attala County! She did finally calm down and they made it home safely. We are at home this week preparing for our mission trip to Nicaragua on the 31st. Then, as soon as we return it's time to get back into the school groove. Summer just gets shorter and shorter every year. Ok, nite all and keep trusting Him!

Wild Olive Tees

I just love these tees! Very unique and captivating! I saw the link on a friend's blog and just had to check it out. I've ordered a long sleeve one for winter. Can't wait to be able to wear it. Am about to order one for a friend as a gift. Check them out...only for Ladies and kids though!

North, South, East, West.....

So, I've been out of pocket for a few days due to some traveling in the deep south. After a few days with my folks, I headed out for GA on Thursday to visit my sweet friend and her new baby girl. I've not spent this much time away from my girls and hubs in a very long time and I must admit, it's getting time to head back. But, before I do, I would just like to share a few things. After a short tenure at the church where our families met, God moved us West. A few short years later, my friend and her husband also moved...West. We were thrilled to be together again. Then, after the birthing of 3 children between us, our friends moved East and we moved North. Now, what do all the directions in this post really mean, well, they mean absolutely nothing when you consider friendship. Friendship is infinite....meaning it never ends despite distance. Our paths do not cross frequently. Our cell phones are not a buzz with chatter each and every day. However, it seems like our conversations just pick up where we left off at our last chat. That is friendship. No matter how far apart we are, we are friends.
I love her and her family. I have loved being with her and sharing in the joy she is experiencing right now. We share so many of the same convictions, ideas, hopes and dreams. I truly appreciate her kindness and humble spirit and have learned from her, among many other things, to be soft spoken and to appreciate the small things in life. So, here's to my friend....whom I will treasure until Jesus calls me home. And then, I'll just wait for her in the .....EAST!

Weekends Are Made for Fun

This weekend feels like it's gonna be just as full as last weekend. But, I must say it's been fun so far. Our neighbors hosted a neighborhood swim party at their home and we all had a great time swimming and playing in the pool. The burgers and dogs were fabulous and dessert and sides awesome. Thanks do the D's for hosting us and making us feel so at home. Then, tomorrow is a cute little boy's birthday and we will celebrate with him in the afternoon. Next week will find us out of town, well, most of us. Cliff will hang around at home while the girls and I visit friends and family. I'll be traveling to GA next week to visit a friend who is bringing home her little girl from the hospital. She was born 6 wks early but is doing great and will be allowed to go home tomorrow...on her Mommy's birthday! It doesn't get any better than that! The girls will be with my folks which means they will be completely ROTTEN by the time we get back home! I'll be posting while away so keep checking back. Oh, we got rain tonight....Praise The Lord!

Psalm 91

Our friends who are battling cancer in their 13 yr old son posted an update today that included Psalm 91. She referred to verses 1-4a where is described safety under His wings. How comforting for her in this situation. It's really hard to understand how to handle devastating news such as they have received these past few weeks and ask "Why Me, Lord?" but in the wisdom and understanding of God, it is very appropriate and even wise for us to say "Why NOT me?". We are His children. So, why would a loving God demand so much of His children? I believe I find the answer in this same chapter as God himself begins to speak to his child....

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Did you get that? God gets all the glory! He gets the credit. When we realize just how undeserving we are of His love and Mercy, we begin to understand just how glorious and awesome He is! "with long life I will satisfy him, AND SHOW HIM MY SALVATION!"

Praise Him today!

4th of July Weekend

We are in the middle of a great weekend celebrating the birth of our country. Cliff is watching the History Channel about the Revolution. Meme is here and the girls are playing dress up in their Cinderella and Snow White gowns. We are headed to the Tobie Cinema this afternoon to watch Toy Story 3 and enjoy some A/C. We'll do church in the morning and then relax on Sunday afternoon while we wait for Nai Nai and Yei Yei to arrive. Monday we will swim and enjoy being together with family. It's been a really good 4th so far. Praying for our friends experiencing trials and rejoicing with those who are seeing God work in mighty ways. We are a blessed nation and so undeserving of all we have. Be grateful today!

33 Yrs ago today....

my sister Kelley was born. She was a miracle in more than way as the doctor realized on that day something was wrong and my Mom was taken for an emergency C-Section. She proved to be a special young lady her entire short life. I thank God for her influence in my life even today. I often recall her smiling face as she would share her faith rather unashamedly to those she was around. She proved her faith daily until God called her home 15 yrs ago in September. One particular event took place in a grocery store in our hometown. In the line in front of us, an older individual fell and was in obvious distress. Most were preoccupied with taking care of calling police and ambulances but I turned to see Kelley on her knees behind the grocery cart praying, interceeding on behalf of that hurting individual. That, my friends, is true faith! I miss her terribly but know that she is rejoicing in heaven today with Jesus and cheering me on as I run this race. I pray I first run to make HIM proud and then to make her proud. God is good even in difficult times and as Philippians 1:21 says, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Amen and Amen!

Update on our friends son...

Please continue to pray for our friends and their son CA. He has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma. He is scheduled for 44 weeks of chemo that began today. Please intercede on behalf of this family. God is able and we are trusting Him.

Amazing week...

I just have to say this week has been amazing in so many ways that I can hardly decide where to start. VBS...dare I say more? But that's just the tip of the iceberg! I'll begin with the exciting news that we averaged 250 in VBS and had at least 20 indicate wanting a relationship with Jesus. I was even privileged to introduce one of my 3rd graders to Jesus myself at SONIC no less! We had milkshakes and then she prayed and asked Jesus to be her Saviour. How SWEET is that? The week was super great and God blessed as we shared the Good News of Jesus with those kids.
I received a call from a best friend in GA on Monday informing me she was in the hospital at 33 weeks pregnant with a little girl really anxious to get out! So, she was giving me the details that AB needed to stay in until Sunday! We began praying for little AB to be patient and to the praise of God, she was and is here now doing well. I am thankful for God working in this family. They mean so much to our family even though we don't see each other often enough! I hope to join them in a couple weeks to help out with the big sister and mom. Please continue to pray for them as they wait and watch AB grow in the NICU.
Then, we recieved news that our former neighbors son is seriously ill. He got sick while on vacation and upon arriving home, was rushed immediately to the hospital. He is a very sick young man so I would appreciate you lifting them up in prayer. You can mention him as CA. God is not taken by surprise by any of these events so I am fully convinced that He has this working out in their lives for a specific purpose. After reminding 3rd and 4th graders all week that God has a plan for their lives, I should take note. He does have a plan and it's the best plan.
I am trusting God this week for my friends. He is able!

One Month ago...

I posted here that I was gonna keep up my blog and keep off Facebook....well, I guess you can tell, that didn't happen. Although I've not posted here since last month this time, I have checked FB but have tried to limit my social networking exposure. I just found myself addicted to it all and needed to take a break. So, here's my update from the past month. Memorial Day was celebrated with a house in disarray due to kitchen cabinet repainting. Yes, I know our house is fairly new but I was never satisfied with the color of the kitchen cabinets. So, I painted them. No, I'm not finished but that's on my list to complete before school starts back in August. By the way, they look great so far and I still have some glazing to do. I'll post pics when I'm done. After Memorial Day weekend, the weeks were filled with tennis, normal everyday life and getting ready to travel to the SBC in Orlando. While we were there, we took the girls to Disney. Yes, in the middle of June and Yes, it was HOT! We only did Magic Kingdom for one day and it was fabulous. The girls had a GLORIOUS time! We had breakfast with Mary Poppins, Tigger, Pooh, Alice and the Mad Hatter, visited Mickey and Minnie's houses respectively, rode Dumbo, The Mad Tea Party, Prince Charmings Carousel, drove a race car at Tomorrowland Speedway and flew on Goofy's Bi-Plane Roller Coaster. It was a PACKED day but absolutely awesome despite the hot weather. The most we waited in line was maybe 20 mins and it didn't seem to be extremely crowded. But, I'm sure the Water Parks were filled to the brim! It was perfect for our girls and although I was worried about our short stay, the girls were completely satisfied and honestly, I was as well. We can't wait to go back again and take in Epcot, Animal Kingdom and the Water Parks. We just need to get a little age on these girls first!
The convention proved to be one of those watershed moments in the life of our denomination. Kingdom business is about the Great Commission and the Great Commission is sharing the Gospel with the nations and in the neighborhood. We have begun the process as a Convention of returning to the call of Christ on all our lives. You can check it out at www.sbc.net. I need to run for now and get ready for VBS tomorrow! Saddle Ridge Ranch....here we come!

Summer is here...

Well, we've waited for it and it's here. Summer has officially begun at the Pace House. School is out, popsicles are bought (and half gone I might add), grass is being cut (often!), and lazy mornings with coffee are at hand. Tennis is in full "swing" for me so that means many fun days at the park for the girls with sidewalk chalk, water bottles, dirty faces and the like.
SJ's end of year school program was great. Songs like, "Oh, It's Raining Cats and Dogs" and the "Days of the Week Song" make me wish I had gone to Kindergarten! Five Yr Old Kindergarten begins in August and will mean a daily trek in to town. But for now, we are only thinking of summer fun with family and friends. We have several trips planned in the midst of all the other fun things to do around here so I'm sure we'll be wondering where the time went by the time the school bell rings again.
We have 2 birthday parties tomorrow and Dad has a Graduation Ceremony to attend so we'll be up and running tomorrow. I do have updated pics that I'll post asap. But for now, you guys stay cool and I'll be blogging more soon....Nite!

All's Well.....and more....

Oh My! I have had an attack of the allergies! I've been sneezing all day and my eyes are all puffy and red! My nose is red too! I know, not the most interesting post for this most interesting blog but it has made my day most interesting. After cleaning out the fridge, I loaded up SC and SJ's friend SM for a quick lunch picnic at the park with CDP. We had a great time but while there, I had another attack. I could barely breathe! I thought for a minute I might be having an asthma attack! Whew! It was awful but I ran quickly to WM and purchased some medicine and am feeling much better now. That brings me to the point I wanted to make with this post. I am healthy and I am grateful! A small allergy attack is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Today's episode coupled with answering questions (and checking "no" on all those possible medical issues) on our APPLICATION FOR ADOPTION made me aware of just how God has blessed my family! Yes, we are beginning the process of our 2nd adoption from China. We have been waiting for God to release us to go back and we feel we've heard Him say, Go! This adoption will be a little different in that our little girl will most likely have some sort of health issue. We are adopting a Special Needs child with the hopes of giving her a better life and most of all being obedient and increasing our family. We are thrilled and overwhelmed at the thought that within the next year our family will increase but we know God is able! We are not, but He is! So, as you pray, remember us and our little girl that is yet to be known to us but is known to God. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the health of our little girl and whatever condition she might have. Pray for us to be ready to go when the time comes. Thanks for listening!

Weekends are made for relaxing...

The girls and I are gonna have a lazy weekend....I mean it...we're not doing anything constructive! Daddy is busy taking care of speakers for a Associational Conference and so it's a girls weekend. Although the weather is gonna hold us hostage indoors, we will make the best of it. I just finished reading on the Pioneer Woman blog a great recipe for Glazed Doughnuts....hummm...that may be our project! I'll let you know how they turn out.
School will be out in 2 weeks and Mom is so excited! Yes, you've got it! Mom is ready to NOT have to get up and get kiddos dressed! SJ is ready to be done too. She really misses playing at the park while Mom plays tennis. So, summer is around the corner and we've already started buying ice cream and popsicles to make the days more fun! I even bought the girls a picnic table so they can eat outside and make a huge mess. That way I keep my sanity...and a semi-clean floor! A new swing set is in the works too....as soon as Dad has time to help me shop for one. I mentioned in my last post about a decision that I was struggling with and I'm proud to say God has given clarity and direction. Thanks for praying. More will be divulged later. Have a great weekend!

Weather....

can't live with it, can't live without it. And we've had our share of it this weekend! Our weekend was scheduled to include all the BBQ one person could hold. However, because of the weather, I decided to stay home with the girls and not be an ambassador at the local BBQ contest. I admit, I am not missing parading around in the mud but am longing for the taste of some pulled pork! Oh well, laundry needs to be done and of course, some blogging! By the way, I'm reading a new book by Major Ian Thomas entitled The Indwelling Life of Christ. I highly recommend it. It's a daily reading plan designed to help you meditate on the concept of Christ in me. Go check it out. I'm also contemplating some things and would appreciate those of you who pray to ask God to direct us in making this decision. I won't divulge any details at this point for I'm not sure exactly what God is saying. So, please be in prayer for me as I pray and seek God for direction.
The girls are great and growing like weeds. We are almost out of school for the summer and we plan to just have a great time outside and traveling to central MS for visits with friends and family. We have been so blessed! How can I complain? Oh, by the way, just so you know, I'm married to the most handsome and handy fellow! My a/c went out in my truck and yep, that's right, He repaired it! And, it only took 5 hours! Go ahead, be jealous! So long for now...

Spring is here!

Spring is here and I'm getting back into the swing of things. Winter has come and gone and now the flowers are blooming and causing all sorts of issues with the sinuses! That's ok though. I'm just thankful for sunshine and back yards! My girls have been dirty and tired every night for the past few weeks and it is so nice! We are enjoying being at home and playing lots of tennis and just being at home.
We have a great visit with my parents last weekend. We started off Friday morning after getting SJ to school, Mom and I got our feet taken care of and a bit of shopping here in H'do. We ate lunch at the great Hollywood Cafe in Robinsonville and then ended the day at the Redbirds game in Memphis. It was opening night and we enjoyed fireworks afte the game...well, most of us enjoyed them. SC was absolutely petrified! Her Yei Yei had to hold her during the entire 20 minute display. Her comment after it was over..."I ok".."Fireworks scare me"...."I ok"....all the way home!
Saturday we spent celebrating my Mom's birthday with shopping and a great meal at home that night. Sunday we worshipped together and later that afternoon, they left for home. We had such a great time. I am so blessed with parents who love to be with us and they don't really need much to entertain them, just being together is enough. And, you know, that's all that's really important anyway. So, this week is lunch bunch, tennis, housework, church, school field trip and who knows what else.
I'll be blogging more now as I've become a little annoyed with FB. I just want to be able to communicate whole thoughts not just snippets...twitter will keep me able to communicate quickly about life and it's happenings but I will save my contemplative posts for this blog. I'll be uploading pics real soon...Glad to be back!

What is Revival?

RE - again VIVE - life

Life again. This would suggest that life had once been but at some point was lost or had waned or maybe even swooned would be a better word. I'm sure many of us have experienced times of waning in our earthly relationships but also in our heavenly relationship. I have been in such a place and I know the feelings of loneliness, frustration, defeat and indifference. These feelings are real and only come from a broken relationship, one that is in need of "life again".
Are you ready for some good news? Acts 3:19 gives us the prescription for revival...."Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
If you're like me, I don't believe I have ever before heard this verse quoted in a "revival service". In times past, revival was a series of meetings where the gospel was proclaimed and the primary focus was evangelism. If we take this verse and understand its' context we will find that revival is for BELIEVERS, CHRIST FOLLOWERS, SAINTS! Those who are alive in Christ. I am experiencing revival. It has happened over a period of time and it came when I followed the prescription....when I read the instructions and was OBEDIENT. I will share more of what Christ has done in due time. But, I did want to re-connect with everyone before life begins it's descent back to normal. I'm so excited about what God is doing.......in me and in the life of HBC!

Facebook Etiquette

I ran across a new blog yesterday that I am excited about.Take a peek at the blog post on http://www.truewoman.com/index.php?id=960.....I think it's worth thinking about....."May our conduct be pleasing in Your sight, Oh God!"

Holiday Visit....

We were pleasantly surprised to be visited by my parents on Sunday evening. They finished church on Sunday night and then drove up to visit. A short visit, but a great one. We ate breakfast at IHOP and then took a "shopping trip". SJ was so excited and her Yei Yei told her she needed to make a shopping list so here it is:
Hershey Kisses
Gum
Gummie Bears
Little Toys
Breakfast

You can bet she received every single item on her list. Her Yei Yei made sure of it! We had a great time and can't wait to visit with them again soon. Later....

Revival Services...

For those of you who read my blog, please remember our church in your prayers during the coming week. LifeAction Revival team will arrive on Friday evening for an 11 day revival summit a HBC. God is working already. How do I know this, because He is working on me! I'm getting excited about what God has in store for me as well as for our church. When you think of me, remember to pray for us. God wants to work and I'm praying He will be allowed to change lives next week. I'll keep you posted....

Haiti and other thoughts....

I've become glued to the news these last few days. The country of Haiti is suffering. The orphans of Haiti are suffering. I've wept and prayed for these children who in many cases are simply waiting for the "governments" to allow them to be united with their forever families. The paperwork is complete. The parents are waiting. The children are waiting.....waiting....waiting. And what are they waiting on? GOVERNMENTS! There, I've said it. I'm mad. I'm angry that GOVERNMENTS have caused these innocent babies to be put in harms way simply because of RED TAPE. I'm about to say something that I will probably regret but if Brown defeats Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race tomorrow, I'm throwing a party at my house and you're all invited! WHEW! Now, on to some good news. It seems that the State Department, under pressure from News Organizations, is looking into the problems and from what I can understand, these children are about to be delivered to their families. I'm thankful to God for that. Please continue to pray for the orphans in Haiti as well as orphans across the globe. It is our responsibility as Christ Followers to care for these children and to PRAY!

Ramblings....

How many times must I watch "You've Got Mail" to get enough! I cry every time! I mean, it just gets me when she's waiting in the park and she hears the dog bark and the all of a sudden, there he is. Can it get any more sappy than that. I must say, I've seen the ending probably 15 times....I just love that movie. Anyway, enough of that. Today is warmer...a toasty 39 degrees! WHOO HOO! I'm really ready to get out of this house for a while with the girls. They ask every day when we can go play tennis and go to the park. I'm steadily checking the weather channel to see what the 36 hour forecast says for our area. I checked out a couple of clothing websites today looking for deals on winter fare and their headlines read......SPRING HAS ARRIVED! NOT! I realize it's just around the corner but for now, I still need my fleece pj's. Enjoy the Wintertime folks!

Ordinary

Saturday's in our house are always unpredictable. Sleeping late is usually on the agenda and breakfast, well, that depends on how late we sleep. So today, the menu was pancakes and sausage... even though I prefer bacon, CDP loves sausage. Normal breakfasts consist of yogurt or oatmeal, cereal or toast. This morning was special but not for any particular reason. After breakfast we all got dressed for a sweet little girl's birthday party and to be out for most of the day. The day was beautiful but cold and after the party, errands took us to Memphis and Southaven before returning home. Sounds pretty ordinary huh?. I guess my intent for this blog post is to share that the ordinary at times is most extraordinary. All I want to do is encourage anyone who reads this blog to enjoy being together with your family. If the day only brings breakfast and errands, embrace the ordinary and make it
extraordinary. You do realize the difference between ordinary and extraordinary....that little "extra". The extra could be nothing more than pancakes and sausage for breakfast! Enjoy Sunday, The Lord's Day....Worship Him!

Pardon our progress....

Ok, I guess you can tell I've been trying to "update" my blog. I'm officially posting the sign "Under Construction"! After spending most of Tuesday peering through computer "code" I finally managed to download a new font. However, I now see a few errors and will need to go back and rummage through to find out the problem. Since the temp outside is 13 degrees, I'm thinking today is a good day to try and finish. So, pardon our dust as we try to make this blog fit for blogging....

Recognition

What is it in the Christ Follower that allows him to see and know that the Father is at work? I see the work of Christ on the Cross more easily than the work of the Spirit in me. Before today, that would have caused me concern. However, I've discovered something....in the Old Testament, God dwelt in the Holy of Holies behind a veil. In nature, God is hidden. We see His Glory revealed mysteriously in the beauty of nature. Even today, after a meaningful worship service, we comment, "surely the Lord was here today". We sense Him but yet we never see Him only mysteriously feel the working of His presence. Lastly and ultimately, Jesus came in the most humble of ways. As a vulnerable baby in a world set to destroy Him. He came and was considered "plain", "simple" without form or comeliness" the scripture says. He even offended his closest friends at times. We expect God to come in lightning and grandeur. We need to see something. We need to know God dwells within us. In the words of Andrew Murray, "God makes himself known in hearts surrendered and prepared for Him." We know God's presence by faith. F-A-I-T-H. Even when I don't see Him, I still know He lives within me. I love this definition of Faith by Andrew Murray, "Faith is the faculty of our spiritual nature by which we can recognize the divine, in whatever unlikely appearance it clothes itself." WOW! I never fully understood but I am beginning to. His presence is mysterious. Colossians 1:27 "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Christ in me......."Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16. Jesus came as a living carbon copy of the Father. Jesus left us and then sent the carbon copy of Himself in His Spirit to DWELL within us. Things we don't see become more important that things we DO see. God dwells deep within the recesses of my spirit. "By faith we must continually yield our whole being to His rule and mastery and be faithful to what appears the nearest to His voice until we come to know His voice better." The more I listen, the more I will hear. I'm learning to listen and exercise faith in Him.

My Apologies...

for not blogging for months! The excuses I provide would be just that so I'll not bore you with the details. However, I did lose my computer, may she RIP! So, let's get this year started and give you a quick update on our life these past few months. Birthdays were awesome in August and September and both girls are perfect! October flew by and November sailed right thru. December kept us all busy with School, Kids Choir programs, Christmas parties, and the like. Santa was extremely good to our princesses and so were Nai Nai and Yei Yei! Mom and Dad took a trip to Monarch, CO for some rest and relaxation and some really fun skiing while the kiddos were spoiled to utter rottenness with Nai Nai and Yei Yei! We are still recovering from that week! As of today, we have rung in 2010 and have de-decked the house of all things Christmas. As I sit here and type, I find myself wondering what to do tomorrow. It seems sort of sad to not be anticipating going somewhere or doing something. However, school starts back on Wednesday and unless the 2-3 inches of snow that's predicted hinders us, we will be back into the groove in a couple days.
Spiritually speaking, God has been working mightily in my life! It excites me just to think about how He has moved in my life as I have obeyed the Spirit's leading. And to make sure you understand, God has worked ONLY because of my obedience and submission to his SPIRIT. We really can live the Christian life. Christ lives in us. We have the power to overcome.
I'll post more regarding this later as well as a new Suggested Reading List I am compiling.
LifeAction Ministries will invade HBC on Sunday, Januyary 24th. Our church is poised to experience Revival if only we will seek Him and remove any and all sin from our lives. Please pray for us as God prepares us and works in the coming weeks.
CDP is excited and burdened for our congregation, state and nation. We want to see God move in an unusual way. We should not be surprised when He does. He IS God!
So, I'll sign off for tonite. Going to sit with the hubby and watch some TV. Life is good and God is Great!