Moments to treasure

As a teacher the quickest months of the year are June and July.  August is approaching quickly and that means school will begin again very soon.  Our summer has been busy and  yet given us time to enjoy one another and relax some also.  I have taken a break from blogging for the past few weeks as I spent time with my family and tried to enjoy every moment of each day.

Two weeks ago,  David and Justin went with our church to Mexico on a mission trip where our friends serve on the mission field at a children's home.  When it was time to return,  Justin decided to stay there to help serve, and from what I have heard it has been a wonderful experience for him.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he serves and grows closer to the Lord.  It is NO coincidence that my devotion the day they left said, "God's glory often appears in desert places."  Exodus 3:12 said, "...I will be with you....you will worship God on this mountain."  That is exactly what my son has been doing and I praise God for giving me His words and for giving Justin this time on the mountain.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

While they were gone, Tia also enjoyed time at church camp with her friends and when asked what the favorite part was she responded with, "worship time."  Those were pleasant words to hear!

Tia and her friend, Hannah, leaving for camp

I think someone missed big sister A LOT! 

Oh, how I wished I could have gone on a mission trip this summer also, but quickly remembered that my home is my mission field and I know that this summer I was right where God wanted me, playing with my sweet girl and loving on each other.   Lia had the chance to have her friends over to play the other day.

Lia and her friend Ali enjoying a favorite treat!

I loved listening to the precious conversations that were going on during play.  

A couple of them were as follows:

Kids:"We leaving."

Me: "Where are you going?"

Kids: "We going on a mission trip."

How I hope they will always grow up having the desire to go on a mission trip to 

love on and care for others because, "the closer we grow toward Jesus, the less we are concerned with ourselves."(Journey devo)

Next, as they were playing house, including taking turns being the mommy, daddy and baby and getting the sleeping bags and kitchen all set up I heard this conversation that gave me a little grin:

Kids: "We sleep together cause we married."

Oh, how I pray they always remember that is how God intends it; a mommy and a daddy sleep together AFTER they are married.

I have so many more pictures to share, but it is late so I will leave you with one more conversation from tonight when one of our boys came home and was preparing to leave again.

Dad: "Son, will we see you at church in the morning?"

Son: "Yes"

Lia:  "On time?"

Son: "Yes(big sigh), on time!"

You can bet she has heard those words many times!

So, I hope you also are ON TIME to worship our Lord and Saviour this Sunday morning!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

When Daddy says no more adoptions...

 but Daddy knows there are so many orphans and we are called to be HIS hands and feet, then he said we could do the next best thing and sponsor a precious baby girl.
Announcing:

HOPE

 Oh, how I wish I could reach out and touch this sweet baby and wrap her in my arms and show her the love of a family.  Unfortunately, that won't be happening because she is in an orphanage in a far away land. Born in May to a mother that either could not or would not be able to raise her, she was left abandoned.  Fortunately, through an amazing organization called 

 Love Without Boundaries

we have the opportunity to make a difference in her life.   Since we were the first family to sponsor her through LWB we were allowed to give her the US name that she will be referred to until she is hopefully adopted.  We will also be sent updates on her once a month along with photos to see how she is doing.  It is our hope that by sponsoring her she will know the love of a foster family instead of being one of MANY in an orphanage.

Why would we choose to do this when there are SO many? 

We may not be able to make a difference to many, but to this ONE it is our HOPE that we will make a difference.

Just in case you are interested, Hope still needs two more sponsors and there are MANY 
others who also need sponsors to either live in a foster home or for surgeries. 

  

 But God will never forget the needy;
   the hope of the afflicted will never perish. 

Psalm 9:18

Love like crazy

"Mommy,"

"Yes, Lia"

"I love you, I love you like crazy cakes"

"Baby girl, I love you too, like crazy cakes!"

This was just one of our conversations tonight between Lia and I while swimming.  

After all of the depressing news media today, sharing those sweet words became even more precious. 

There is nothing in this life that is more important than to love and if you come back by tomorrow I will share with you how we are going to share it a little more.  

Any guesses?

...if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

I Cor 13:2

July 4, 2010

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
   the people he chose for his inheritance. 

Psalm 33:12 

I feel very blessed today that I had the freedom to enjoy a day doing a little bit of nothing.  What and awesome feeling it is to know my eternal freedom is secure by THE ONE who gives the ultimate freedom and my earthly freedom is protected by men and women far and near giving of themselves to protect our country.

Thank you seems so little, but I am so thankful to have the ability to live in a country 

that allows me the opportunity to live the life God called me to live

without persecution and raise these two blessings:

Happy Birthday

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy birthday to my oldest.  

What a joy it is to see how God is directing Justin's paths and growing him into such a

wonderful young man.  

He also has the pleasure of sharing his birthday with Uncle Mike and a half birthday with his cousin, Blake. What a day of celebration we enjoyed!

Thanks, guys, for having another birthday so we have occasion to have a party and lots of good food!