Out with 2012 and in with 2013

As the sun was setting tonight on 2012,  I went outside to take a picture.  

My camera, though, was just my ipad and it doesn't take such great pictures.  

What I saw was a beautiful sunset masked by a layer of fog rolling in to cover the ground.  Thankfully, we were blessed today with a wonderful, much needed rain.  Sadly, this beautiful fog and much needed rain will likely be a deadly mixture tonight when some combine it with alcohol to ring in a new year.  For many years, we have brought in the new year at home with our friends and family.  This year is no different.  I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be; surrounded by my family, sitting in front of a fire, with the lights of the Christmas tree still glowing for one last night.  It is my hope and prayer that as many people end one year and bring in another they will think before drinking and driving.  Oh, how I wish I didn't know personally the destructive effects of alcohol and how it has affected my friends and loved ones over the years, but I do and I pray it never has to affect your friends and/or family.

 May you have a safe ending to

 2012 

and a beautiful and prosperous

 2013!

Thanksgiving 2012

Waking up early to finish the last of the preparations for today's festivities gave me time to sit for a while and reflect on the many reasons I have to be thankful.  This song, Thank You, Lord, by Hillsong, continued to play in my mind. 

For all that You've done, I will thank You
For all the You're going to do
For all that You've promised
And all that You are
Is all that has carried me through
Jesus I thank You

And I thank You
Thank You Lord
And I thank You
Thank You Lord

Thank You for loving and setting me free
Thank You for giving Your life just for me
How I thank You
Jesus, I thank You
Gracefully thank You
Thank You 

 Thank you, Lord, for an amazing husband who loves me when I'm not so loveable!

 Thank you, Lord, for 5 amazing kids who love each other.

Thank you, Lord, for little ones and cousins who help us appreciate the joys in life.

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of this day so we could enjoy each other while we enjoyed your handiwork. 

 

Weekend reminders

A busy weekend leaves me with many thoughts and pictures, but little time before my eyelids become very heavy.  So, here are a few brief thoughts that are on the top of my mind.

 The beauty of the Lord renews my strength!  

He knows what my weary heart needs and a weekend Easter retreat to Falls Creek

was a refreshing time to be reminded that 

Jesus doesn't want to be a number on my list...

He wants to BE THE LIST!

 When your Father is the King of Kings, you will always be a TRUE PRINCESS!

 Coloring Easter eggs is more fun with big brothers and sisters and the reason we celebrate is

"because He didn't stay in the cave"

from the words of a pretty smart little 6 year old.

 There is nothing better than a sister to laugh with

 and look up to,

 

or a bunch of cousins to play with.

 

When you are this cute it must be ok to put all of your eggs in one basket. 

 

But the most important reminder of all came on our way home tonight as the 

rays of the setting sun reminded us that 

HE IS RISEN!

Hebrews

Tonight on our way home from Awanas, we were going 

over the books of the bible.  

Lia would try to read them to me from the backseat and I would tell

 her what it said if she wasn't sure.  She is reading like 

crazy and she got most of them on her own!

Our list went like this:

Matthew 

Mark

Luke 

John

Acts 

Romans

1, 2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1, 2 Thessalonians

1, 2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

"Hmm!  He Bruise?  I bruise too!"

Yes, baby girl, I would say you do!

I wasn't going to post the bruise pictures, but after that precious conversation, I just couldn't resist!

This all came from a run in on the playground on Thursday afternoon, which led to a Dr. visit, CT scan, and lots of questions over the weekend!  

Praise God, she is doing fine, (although very tender) and we had a gorgeous day to celebrate daddy's birthday 

outside with a picnic.

The wind was a little much so one candle was plenty!

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

A few weeks have passed, but at least I'm still posting pictures in the same month!  

Thanks to our wonderful family, we were able to share our 25th wedding anniversary with many friends and relatives.  What a joy to share special memories with 

precious people who have seen us through the good times and the struggles.

I never want to take one moment for granted for the gift God gave me in an amazing Godly man with whom I get to share life's ups and downs.  

 

  

Many years ago, our pastor,  Bro. Greene was there when I was born, 

he baptized both of us 

and all three of our boys, and now,  many years later we 

had the privilege of having Bro. Greene renew our wedding vows.

 

It's those vows and that commitment that have kept our love

alive when the struggles of this world would have told us to quit.

 

Thanks to my sweet friend, Rebecca, for the beautiful cake, 

 

my mom for her creative decorations, and the rest

of my family for transforming our new garage into a 

wonderful place to celebrate. 

Also, thanks to my cousins, at Zinnia Photography, for 

 capturing our day in photos we will treasure for many

years to come

But the greatest of these is 

love.

1 Cor. 13

Forever in our hearts

It is a genuine treasure when someone impacts  your life in such a way that you know will never be forgotten.  I've heard it said that often times people come into our lives for a reason or for a season.  We had one such person come into our lives for a very short season and it is a story that needs to be heard and remembered.  

I hope and pray you will read this story and then cherish each person in your life and realize they may only be there for a season.

This story began August 11, 2010 and came to a temporary end last week.  Temporary, because it will be continued when we all see Jesus face to face; a time I look forward to with great anticipation!

After Lia's heart surgery last year at our wonderful children's hospital we were supposed to have a translator come in since she had only been home for two months and was speaking little English.  When the translator didn't show up, we asked if there was someone to translate for her so she could understand what all was going on.  The hospital said there was a doctor on staff who spoke Mandarin who might be able to visit.  Later that day, a new face came into our room and began speaking to Lia in the most gentle voice ever.  He introduced himself as Dr. Benjamin Siu and said he was a pediatric cardiologist who was in the operating room during her heart surgery.  See, he didn't just care about our baby's heart, he also truly helped hold her heart.  After a caring conversation with Lia and time spent with David and I, Dr. Siu reached behind our backs and gently closed the door.  He then began to pray THE MOST amazing prayer I have ever heard in my life.  He didn't just pray a wordy prayer, but a prayer straight from the heart asking God for healing and to bless our baby girl's life.  He prayed that she would grow up and make an impact on others and share the love of the Lord with people in her birth county.  He prayed for her mental, physical and spiritual well being and brought many tears to my eyes.  If I never saw him again, that one moment would have made an impact I would never forget.

Two weeks later as we prepared to leave the hospital we had to tell which cardiologist we would follow up with.  We had already seen another wonderful doctor and didn't want to hurt her feelings by not continuing care with her.  We were told though that they were all in the same group and it would be no problem to change.  So, as God led us, we continued our follow up care with Dr. Siu.  Each visit was the same with him first speaking in Mandarin to Lia and lovingly reassuring her of what was happening.  Then he took as much time as needed to speak with us and explain anything we didn't understand.  Each visit ended the same with his arms around us and hand upon Lia and praying a prayer from the depth of his heart.  I asked Lia what the last thing was she remember about Dr. Siu and she remembered him handing her a cookie as we left his office in June and reminding her to also share a cookie with her mommy.  See that is the kind of man he was.  Always thinking of the needs of others.  He told us to come back next year and we expected to see him again in June. 

God however chose to take him home through a very tragic accident and we now pray for his family left behind.  Please keep them in your prayers and PLEASE watch this video to see what a wonderful man we had the privilege of knowing for a short time.  (Since it was on the local news I guess I can not upload it to my blog.)

 

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Cardiologist-killed-in-bike-crash-left-a-worldwide-legacy-136855773.html

Dr. Siu, we thank you for teaching us what a true follower of Christ 

looks like and for giving our daughter someone to look up to!

You were a servant of God whom we will never forget. 

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:20