Choices

My summer has being flying by as they seem to do. As I age, I feel as though they go faster and faster. The past few weeks, have been filled with important and time worthy things. Our kids got their wisdom teeth removed and needed help after surgery. Then one of them got a double infection and needed some extra appointments and care. We also had a camp at church, which I helped with and then we brought Maggie home. During this time I sensed something was missing. I didn't know what it was. It was hard to put a finger on. I wasn't sure if I was tired, so I took naps, still didn't feel right. Then I thought, maybe I am not eating enough because of caring for others. No, that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe I just had to get used to my kids being home more and not in school right now. Still not it. Then while taking a walk with Maggie, I looked at the spot I often sat and talked to God at. It is a small hill that looks out over our property and I enjoy the sunsets. It had been weeks since I did that. Then later that evening, I looked at "my chair". You know, the spot you curl up in and get caught up in the pages and lose all track of time. And it all came together. I had chosen the past few weeks to put off time with God. Yes, I prayed throughout the day and I read quick things here and there, but I mean a time with God. My heart ached for it and I missed it. I remember when I sat in my chair and opened my bible it was as if I was home. That feeling went away. I found what was missing. I get encouraged and renewed strength when I read scripture. No wonder I was tired. I was running on my own time. I also listened to my iPod for the first in weeks and took in the words. A song that kept coming to mind, played. It is one from years ago by Robin Mark. It is called: "When Its All Said and Done". If you are not familiar with the song, it asks the listener several questions. Some are: when your life is over what do you have to show for it? Did you live a life for truth and did you do your best to live a life for Christ? All our treasures mean nothing in the end, only what we did for love's reward will stand the test of time. God takes sinners and makes them saints. Heaven is our true home.

We also had our wheat harvested this week and it reminded me of the times in scripture things are compared to the wheat/grain being sifted. What is left, is of value, the chaff blows away.

Where am I going with all this? Well, I have prayed about what to write and I have two thoughts going through my mind, that I hope will challenge or encourage you. They are this. What type choices do I and you make each day? What are we choosing and why? In a matter of weeks, Satan had me so busy doing good things, I didn't realize how quickly I was not focusing on God. I was busy. Busy with stuff that mattered some, but some of it was just stuff. When my life is over I will need to answer for the way I spent my time. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit kept nudging me, till I realized what I was doing. I can have a full calendar with things that look great to people, but if God was looking at the list, would He be impressed? I can't do enough things to impress God, but I can feel at peace and not out of sorts when the things I am doing are His will for my life. I find His will by reading His Word and spending time in prayer. I see how people think they don't have time for God, but some day, they and I will need to answer for what we did with all the time we had. Some people think when they get older that is when they will give back to God. Or when life slows down then they will spend more time doing the things they know they should be doing now. But here is the part they are missing, how much time do I have? Some people have 20 years some 90 years. No one but God knows the amount of time you have. That was the part I kept thinking about after the song. When it is all said and done, what really matters and what have I done with it?

The wheat reminds me my deeds will be sifted. I want my time to have meant something. I want good things to come out of this time I have been given. I don't want them to all blow away like chaff. I am not perfect, nor would I try to be. But I think there are times we come to cross-roads in life and we need to every now and then stop and ask ourselves, "what does God want me doing at this season of my life". Maybe the answer is to keep on keepin on. Sometimes though, He has changes in mind and we need to be open to that. Sometimes we work hard at something with very little earthly return for our time. But we need to remember some day, we will stand before God and answer for what we have done. Yes, we are to take vacations and take breaks. Yes, He helped me get my puppy. Yes, I needed to take care of my family. But you know what, I spent hours watching movies and TV, when I could have and should have snuck away for some quiet time with Him. He gave me the options, and for weeks, I didn't chose Him, I chose stuff. We all makes choices each and every day. I am grateful to serve a God who understands and forgives us when we stray or avoid time with Him. He welcomes us with open arms. What type of choices are you making this week, ones that will stand the test of time or ones that will blow like the chaff of wheat?

Maggie

If a month ago, you would have told me my summer would be full of puppy moments and puppy training I would have looked at you strangely. As I have written about several times this past year, a dog was what I ached for and wanted so badly, yet the time wasn't right. My husband was honest with me and wasn't sure he wanted another dog in the house, I understood and would pray that God would remove the desire from heart to own a dog. I even begged for Him to please take the pain away or help my husband see how badly I need a dog in my life. I wasn't mad and I wasn't upset, but I knew the time wasn't right.

Then a few weeks ago, while surfing on the computer my eyes fell upon the words "Lab Puppies for Sale". I looked and the puppies were being sold by a family we knew for years. The mother is beautiful and I often would watch her when I went past their house and thought how nice she always seemed and played well with kids. Hmmm....could now be the time? After a lot of praying, talking and thinking it through we decided to call and see if any females were left? There were. One more piece of the puzzle, the last piece had to be put into place before I could call. I needed my husband's blessing on this. I could have gone out and bought the puppy, I could have made the choice on my own and I could have even had the kids on my side and I could have hoped that once he saw her, he would love her too! But you know what, that would be a miserable life. I needed to know he was okay with it, more than I needed the puppy, and I NEEDED the puppy! We had several heart felt talks and we both decided to pray about it. After several days, I had learned a few things, I never would have learned if we didn't handle it this way.  I learned that my husband sometimes does things for me, because he truly loves me, and he shared his concerns and I heard them. I realized that I need to step up to the plate and take more responsibility with caring for a pet. I cried when he said he would go with me to see them. We went as a team. The girls and I had gone earlier in the day to look at two litters. When we found one we liked he went with me in the evening. He liked her as well and we picked a puppy, she would be coming home in a few weeks. The time went fast and before I knew it she was home. Her name is Maggie.

I have not been this tired for years, but she is worth it. She wakes us up at early morning hours and plays hard. But she sleeps too! She is happiest when she is with one of us and she loves laying in front of a fan. She turned 9 weeks this past Wednesday and it was like a light switch, she plays more than she sleeps now and everything is an adventure. She realized she loves water and helps water plants in the evening. She also loves to eats my plants, which is not funny, but she looks cute doing it. She now is on a leash more because she wants to run.

 Notice the wet head? She loves my hanging basket and how the water runs out if I get too much in it. In the evening when we all sit down together to watch TV as a family, she likes to be right with us. That is one of the things I love about Labs. She also likes the cool kitchen floor and sleeps in some of the strangest positions. I would be stiff and sore when I woke up, but not her.

I have learned a few things this past month: don't give up on something deep in your heart that you always wanted, it may not be a no forever, just for a season. I waited and prayed for over three years for a dog. When the answer came, I wasn't expecting it! I also learned sometimes we need to say yes to something because of what it means to the other person. My husband loves dogs, just more outside then in. We had to come to an agreement. We compromised. Isn't that what we do in life. I also learned, that when you think you are so tired you can't move, someone will step in to help. Our teenage daughters help so much and love taking her for runs and walks. We are doing this as a family. Matter of fact, I have caught my husband talking to her and even laying in the grass with her. She runs up to his feet when he comes home each night. She saw his work clothes on the laundry pile and immediately the tail started going and she was all excited.

I know God was smiling with me on the day we picked her up and I even had tears in my eyes when we got her. I think He did too. He loves us and He gives us what is best at the time it is best. I had to come to true peace that if I never owned another dog, life would be okay. I had to let go of the disappointment and sadness of not having a dog. He gave me cats to fill the void for awhile, but then He gave me Maggie. She really is a gift. Speaking of the cats: "my dog", Snoopy, they touch noses now. Patches is getting better, but Toby, not so much.....

I think with time, they will stand each other, but I don't think they will ever be buds. So he gets one on one attention when Maggie is sleeping. Life is still good for the cats, they just had to adjust.

I hope you get to soon see one of life's many, many surprises and that you are able to praise the giver of all gifts, Our Heavenly Father.

What a Rainbow Means to Me

 This picture was taken last year at our home. The colors were so bright and it looked like if I walked to my neighbor's house I could touch it!

This past week has brought much rain and a few rainbows. One night this week, while driving, I noticed a rainbow across the pasture and stopped for a while and gazed at it. I didn't have my camera with me or I would have posted pictures from it. That is why I needed to use last year's pictures. But it was very similar to this one.

While I continued down the road I realized people were pulling over and pointing. I saw people coming out of restaurants and watching and pointing. I began to wonder, "why do we do that?" We see a rainbow and time seems to stop, it seems to take our breath away. It certainly isn't because it is the first and last one we will ever see. Does everyone who looks at rainbows know why they appear? I don't mean scientifically, I mean, do they believe in God and know that it is a reminder of the promise He made to Noah all those years ago? Is it something in all of us, that whether we believe or not, we know that only our Creator could create that and we need to just stand in awe of what He has done? If we stand in awe of what He has done, what will we do when we see Him face to face! The more I processed this thought, the more I came to the realization, not only does a rainbow remind me that He will never destroy the earth again with a flood, but that God keeps His promises. I like to think, that when we see a rainbow, yes, the moisture shining through the sun's rays causes the spectrum of light, but that it is God's way of reminding His creation, I AM a promise keeper. God's Word, is full of promises. He will never leave us or forsake us, He will never give us more than we can handle, He will give eternal life to anyone who believes in His Son and asks for forgiveness. He wipes our sins as far as the East is from the West, He promises to watch over us. I could go on and on. But I just simply had to smile on my drive home, even though I didn't have my camera to take pictures, because you know what, God is a promise keeper. I don't have to worry He will take back what He said. I don't worry that He will one day say, "I changed my mind, my Word, doesn't apply to you". What promises do you need to hear Him whisper in your ear this week? You are beautiful and I created you just as I wanted you to be, You are precious in my sight, I died for you, I desire fellowship with you or  I love you for who you are on the inside and I don't care what others think of you. Only you know what is heavy on your heart today, but I promise, He is watching and waiting to help you and encourage you. Have you asked for His help? Have you looked at His promises lately? Remember, He is a promise keeper and each time the storm comes and the sun begins to shine, He reminds us, I am still keeping my promise, are you?

If you look closely, you will see this is double-rainbow. Did you know that on the second rainbow the colors are in reverse order of the first. Another special touch by the Master. I challenge you this week to look at some of the promises He has recorded in His Word. Also, if you see a rainbow this week or in the week's to come, take time to point, stand in awe and thank Him for keeping His promises. He is worthy of our praise regardless of life's situations!

Detours and Details

Detours: We all have experienced them. We usually sigh or become frustrated when we see the sign. We usually don't have time for them. Usually we see "Road Construction" signs first and then the detours. Most detours followed carefully will take us right back to the spot we were trying to get to before we were sent another direction. Sometimes a sign is missed and we end up at the other part of town if we don't know where we are going.

This week, while going to an appointment with my daughters, we saw traffic backed up for a long distance. I said, "remind me when we leave, we want to go another way". We did just that. The appointment was at a location neither one of them had been to before, and since they are still learning how to navigate with driving, I decided to test them a bit. I asked them how they would have gotten home if I wasn't along. They both decided going through downtown would have been their choice. So, we headed downtown. We didn't get very far, when one of my daughter's said,"hey that is the way Dad said I should go tonight when leaving for camp". She would be picking up a few friends and having to go through the city to get the route number she wanted. We no sooner saw that, when we saw "Road Closed". Detour. Her heart sank. She became very concerned what she was going to do. She didn't know another way to go. Only the way her dad told her to go. I told her to relax and remember I was driving and I knew how to get us home. I even told her, we had extra time, lets follow the detour signs and see where they go. She liked that idea and we followed. They brought us right out to the spot she needed and she felt much better knowing it would be fine. I smiled at her and said, you know what, I just got my thought for this week's blog.

We normally wouldn't have gone to that branch office, but it fit the time slot we were in so we picked it. We would never have gone through the city, but there was some sort of traffic issue. I call those things, God Appointments. God knew my daughter would need to be on that same road in a few short hours, with friends and she wouldn't have known what to do. He knew having her go through with me as a test run would help her relax and be ready for later that night.

God takes us on detours. Sometimes we don't know why they happen. We plan our day, we study for tests, we prepare for responsibilities, we have done all we knew to do, yet on the day we are to go, a detour. The detour could be the car doesn't start, you wake up sick, your meeting you planned for weeks, is cancelled, or maybe a friend/family calls and needs your urgent help so you cancel.  There are many detours. How do we respond to the detours He places in front of us? Do we sigh, become frustrated and angry? Or do we recognized as He has promised in His word to us, He knows the plans He has for us and He knows the things we will say and do before said and done by us?

Another reminder I had this week, is that God is always in the details. As I have written before, I have chickens. This week, I had to sell a few that were getting older. I wasn't looking forward to this, but knew it needed to be done and I knew families would be blessed with food. So, this week, was the week. Five of the eight that I sold I knew had to go, because of age and lack of laying. The other three I had to choose. I was not looking forward to having to catch them and taking them out, but as I said, it had to be done. Two of three were bad. They would fight or break eggs. I knew who they were and marked them with bands, but catching them among 24 others was not going to be easy. I prayed and asked God to help me do this. He knows my heart and the love I have for his animals, yet, I know animals are also a source of food. I also asked Him to help me "catch" the right ones. Some of you may think that is silly to ask God for help like that. God has much more important things than chickens. God is more concerned with the lost. God is working on world issues. All that is true, but you know what, He is also our Heavenly Father and He cares about the smallest details of our life. He wants to help us, no matter the size of the request.  I have learned the little prayers that He has answered, made the biggest growth in my relationship with him. I woke up several times during the early morning worried about how I was going to do this. As I headed to the hen house, I prayed again and felt peace. You know what, when I walked in the two I dreaded the most, were sitting in the nesting boxes! All I had to do was reach in and take them out. No chasing, no stressing, no worrying. I still hated to see them go, but God helped me let go and realize the bigger picture. He does care about the details. He makes us have special interests, talents and gifts. He doesn't give them to punish us or make life difficult. He helps us in the weakest part of our gifts/strengths. I love animals, I hate to see them die, but I understand the cycle of life and I understand it needs done. He was there in the details of my morning. He was also in the details at church this week. Each night I helped with a camp for kids. Each day we had 90 degree weather that left me tired and have some sort of headache, but I had committed to it and knew I needed to be there. You know what, every night, when I opened that door, I felt better and made it through the night with no issues. I know He was giving me the strength to do it. He is in the details.

My challenge to you this week is do you look for God in the detours and trust Him with the details, regardless of the size of the situation?

Lightning Bugs

I love lightning bugs, don't you! Don't you feel like a kid when you see them start to appear in the night sky? The story I am going to share today, happened last summer. It is what is responsible for my devotional blog. I briefly spoke about it on my first entry and since then I have been asked about it and decided to post it as this week's entry. 

It was a warm summer day and the sunset was extra beautiful. To me a sunset is God's way of saying: "good-night, see you in the morning!".

I was sitting on a small hill and watching the sky. I was by myself and reflecting on the day. I was spellbound at all that was happening. The sky was getting dark and the bugs were starting to sing their songs, the corn and wheat looked so pretty against the night sky. It was so dark, I asked myself, why are you still sitting here, there is nothing to see, yet, the sounds of the crickets seemed to keep me there. Then it started to happen. The lightning bugs started to take flight and light up. At first, I could have counted them, then after awhile, the fields were full of them. I lost count. As I sat there alone I remembered how when our kids were small, they would catch them to show to me. They were so excited they could catch them and hold them for awhile or put them in glass jars. They would cup them in their little hands and then peak inside to see them glow.

I pondered to myself, I wonder if that is what God sees when He looks down on His creation? It is full of so much darkness. So much hate, sadness, fighting, killing, etc.We have become a selfish people. I pictured Him and Jesus looking down and seeing all the darkness, and wondering does anyone care anymore? But then one by one, little lights start showing up everywhere. Just as the field did to me. It didn't look so dark anymore when they looked out across their Creation, each light that showed up was one more that believed in Him. For when we believe in Him, we shine His light in us. Is that how Earth looks? One by one we tell someone about Jesus and they accept Him and they begin to glow with His love and presence and then they tell someone, and so on. I picture Jesus leaning over to God and saying, there is one that believes, and there is another one, oh, look, one more and even smiling.

In the year since that experience I have realized why I was suppose to stay out so long, I had to wait until it was dark enough to really see the glow of the lightning bugs. I don't look at them the same way anyone. I also reflected on a deeper level. We can hide in the darkness, we can become a part of the darkness. We can even blend in at times. However, darkness can be a scary time. Think about when the electric goes out. Aren't you so relieved when you find a candle or flashlight and that small flicker of light, lights up the entire room? It doesn't matter the size of the room, a small candle can light up a huge area.  Also, those bugs once lit, can attract the enemy and they can be eaten. They are risking being seen when they light up.

Are you willing to be seen in this dark world? Are you willing to shine and make Satan furious?  Are you shining your light, no matter where you are, no matter how much darkness you feel around you? I am reminded of a song from my childhood, "This Little Light of Mine". We sing that song, promising to let our light shine and to not let Satan blow it out. If Satan has tried to blow it out, or you feel you aren't shining as brightly as you were meant to be, ask Jesus to make the light brighter. He will give you the courage and strength to shine. You never know who you may meet today, that has been in the darkness too long, and just needs a bit of light in their life. It may be a smile, it may be sitting and simply listening, letting them go first in line, praying for them and telling them you are doing so, or it may even be sharing the reason you glow with them, by sharing what Jesus has done for you.

May you shine brightly this week! If you have time and live on the East Coast, take a blanket outside tonight and just watch all the lightning bugs in your yard or drive on a country road, you will see them I promise. Are you lighting up the sky around you, just as they are? Remember the more of us glowing together will stand out in the darkness. One light at a time!

The Pea Patch

I love gardening. I love this time of year when the first of the garden crops are starting to come in. I love the soft dirt between my toes and the bright colors of the veggies growing. I also love the quietness of the garden. I get lost in time when I am out there. It is behind the barn and out of the day to day traffic. I usually put on my ear buds and play my favorite music while picking. I like to set my iPod to "shuffle" and then I get an assortment of songs. I have songs that take me back to when I was a child, current hits and then the praise and worship songs, that cause me to stop what I am doing and just thank God for who He is.

Tuesday night after checking the garden, I noticed the peas were ready for their first picking. My husband helped me put a fence up so the picking would be easier on my back with my arthritis. I was ready for fresh peas.

I went on the outside of the fence first and worked my way around the entire outside. Then I started working on the inside of the two rows. I was enjoying my time so much and enjoying all the sights while picking. The birds were singing and even a robin was sitting on top of the tomato stake and watching me. She seemed so happy to be joining me in the garden.

Look how straight and tall the plants are and full of blooms, which means many more peas will be coming. I was on my last turn and ready to reach into the top part of the stalk, when to my surprise this is what caught my eye....

I was scared at first, because my hand almost touched it. But once I realized what it was, I wanted to hold it.  Then I realized it was more scared of me. It wanted so bad for me to keep moving past it, just like I had done earlier. I now understood why the robin was sitting so close to me and watching my every move. She wasn't there to see me or worms from the garden. She was there watching over her prized possession.

The thoughts that went through my mind were what I want to share with you. As I reflected on going to the garden and checking the peas, then coming back with my bucket, then picking and moving the fence a bit since the wind had caused it to lean a little, that tiny bird was there the whole time. I thought I had looked closely at the peas and I missed it so many times. How many times do I look at a situation and think I am seeing all there is to see? I make decisions, choices and even judgements based on what I see. But am I really seeing the whole picture. If you look at the second picture you will see the robin is there, but hiding very well. Are there times I see glimpes of God at work, yet I don't look how closely He is in the details? We may think that what we see, is ALL there is to see, yet, if we had to admit it, we were blind to the details he was working out. I had something this week that I had decided was going to be a no answer, but realized there was one more piece to the puzzle before God was going to give me the final answer. I assumed based on what I had before me and didn't fully do my part of the work. I was the missing piece and had to take ownership in some of the things. The answer I assumed was no, turned out to be a yes.  There were just some things that had to be done on my part before He could say yes.

The other part I thought about was, that mother was watching quietly and patiently. She must have sensed I didn't see her young, because she remained quiet but watchful. God is always watching over us, He may seem quiet at times, but He is still watching. We mean so much more to Him than that baby robin meant to its mother. She will simply have another batch. She will continue to do that. You, however, are not replaceable. You, were thoughtout and sought after and even bought for a price. You mean more to Him than anything. So, I want to encourage you, if  the picture before you looks dim or that the answer you begged for is no, remember you may not be seeing the whole picture. The answer may still come back no, but you will see better why it is no. No - sometimes means the time isn't right, the situation isn't in your best interest, or you need to check your reason for asking in the first place. But regardless on the response, you can know this for sure, He is watching over you and protecting you, even if you don't feel it. If you have time this week, read Psalm 139 in your favorite bible translation, I recommend New Living Translation, but what ever is your favorite, will be what is best. Insert your name in the verses if you need to be reminded just how much you are loved and planned for. Read it several times or until it really sinks into your soul.

If you have a vegetable garden, be on the lookout for hidden treasures. We serve a God that likes to surprise us every now and then, just because He can. If you don't have a garden, trust me, He still has hidden treasures for you, but are you looking....

Happy treasure hunting!

Anniversaries

Anniversaries: We all have them. It is the marks in time that we look back on and remember an event. It could be the time you moved into your own home, it could be a wedding, it could be when you quit a habit, and sadly it could be when you maybe lost a love one. Regardless of what makes it an anniversary, we all have one. That moment in time, when time itself seemed to stop and our memory was forever marked with that date. Do you have anniversaries? Ones you share with family and friends? Ones that you share privately with yourself and God. I have a very important anniversary coming up and every time of year when it approaches I have such mixed emotions. I have learned to celebrate them and embrace them. It is just a little over a month away. The date was July 17th, 1995. My life was exactly how I wanted it and I was completely in control. I laid down for a nap and when I woke up, my life changed for ever. In a blink of an eye as the saying goes. I was admitted to the hospital that evening and in less then 24 hours I had to make decisions, I pray no one ever has to make. I went from working a full time job and living life as I wanted it , to laying in a bed unsure when my feet would ever touch the floor again. I remained hospitalized for 3 months. I developed a blood clot that has left permanent damage. I will not take time to retell my story, God has been having me do that more and more lately and I praise Him for it. I am scheduled to tell it again this Sunday to our youth and would greatly appreciate your prayers. I don't mind speaking, I love it actually, it is the time between now and then that makes me nervous. My story has a wonderful ending. Through all the ups and downs and twists and turns, I have two beautiful daughters who are such a blessing to me and my husband. That made it all worth it. But you know there is something that came out of the experience that I will never forget and that is why the anniversary is so special. You see, when I had everything I ever wanted taken from me and all that was left was just me and God, I realized that is more than enough. More than anything this world can and will offer. I realized life is short, I control nothing and I own nothing. He controls all things and owns all things. He has given me free will yes, but He still is in control. I have learned to not hold onto "things so tightly" anymore. I have learned to trust Him for what He feels is best, even if His best for me is not what I think I want because at the time it looks hard or difficult.

When this date approaches every year I am thankful of a life changed and what God did to get me to see that while He died for me and saved me, He also wanted a relationship with me. I was in relationship with things of this world and thought that is what brought me happiness. I couldn't have been more wrong or blind. As I prepared for this week to share, it brought up many memories and so I think that is why I felt today's post needed to be about this topic. Do you have a time in your life that you remember an event from the past. Each time you write that date you are taken back in time? For me, I am reminded if He could do that then, I know He can do this now. Not only was my life changed, but I was able to see miracles happen. Our daughters were given a 10% chance to live and that most likely would have been with birth defects and issues. Those same sweet babies have grown into adults who have nothing wrong. When I see them laugh and enjoying life, my mind drifts back to a time when I felt so scared and alone. I had to decide which one I wanted to live and which one may possibly die. I had to decide to listen to the doctors advice and stay in bed and doing nothing for weeks and months. I had to turn them over to God and trust His plan was perfect. Even if that meant holding them while they took their first and last breaths in my arms. I didn't know how things would work out. I had to trust day by day and sometimes hour by hour. You may be doing the same right now with a situation in your life. I had to come to a place that I trusted and accepted whatever outcome He felt was best. It was by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. My story ends well, but I had to accept that it may not. That my friend is true peace. Being willing to accept the circumstances that are out of our control and finding joy in them. The Apostle Paul wrote about these types of things many, many times. I pray you are enjoying your anniversaries and finding peace in the difficult ones. 

One final thought, as my anniversary comes around I often find time that day to look back on the pictures and the memories. I believe God wants us to do those types of things and share our stories with others. The children of Israel were to keep telling each generation the miracles He had performed. They were to pass that down. It only takes one generation to break the cycle and we see that happening in the Old Testament, how they would walk away from God and then one would rise up that would turn them back. I want to encourage you to share with your family and friends the good things He is doing in your life as well as the struggles He is helping you through. We need to encourage one another and remind each other the good things He has done. Day by day, one way or another we will get through.

With our daughters blessings, I have included some pictures for you to see. Celebrate with me a good thing He has done!

This was taken when they were 7 days old. The item in front of them was a large pen. Helps you see the size we were dealing with.

A year later.....

 Now, all grown up into the beautiful women God had planned from day one. I am honored to be their mom and I can't wait to see what God has planned. He already knows, I just get to enjoy it while it unfolds.