For His Service

Happy New Year!  2015 is here!   I have a few resolutions for the new year, things to shoot for to make an even better 2015.  I want to  practice  an attitude of gratitude and make a conscious effort to find things to thank God for.  None of us are going to have perfect lives this side of Heaven, but we can still be to be thankful.   I am going to focus on the good and let go of the bad. I am not going to compare myself to others.  God made me ... He knit together my "in most being" ... my personality.  I have to be me. .. and not worry that I am not as neat and organized as other moms, that I am not as pretty as another, that I am not as smart as another, etc.     Comparison is a thief of joy because comparison tells us that we have been cheated.  However, we are not walking in their shoes.  We really do not have a clear picture of what their struggles are... even if we are facebook friends with them. ...

 Noah (my oldest) taking a relaxation break So, Russell showed his love for me by installing a bench swing inside our house. We already had the perfect spot so it was a matter of purchasing the swing and installing it.  There is something about swinging with your sweetheart ....  I guess it is a little sentimental thought that gets me,  as Russell and I began dating 1986 ...and the song Swingin  was regularly on the radio at that time.     I am so thankful for a husband who shows me he loves me.... as we relax, talk, cuddle and swing...in the comfort of our living room.   Thank you, Lord for your many blessings...     James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.    

God does have a sense of humor. He takes two totally different people and tells them they are now one.... to think as one... live as one.   .. How are we suppose to do that?  We can't without His Holy Spirit.  We, by nature, are selfish and only think about our own needs.  It  isn't like us to naturally consider the other person's feelings.  Don't believe me?  Watch any two or three year old!  We have to teach them not to hit...to share... to be loving, etc.  me and my sweet Husband... There are many Bible Verses on marriage.. Genesis 2:22-24 ,   Ephesians 5:23,24,32 , 1 Co, Ephesians 4:2-3,  1 Co rinthians 7:1-16 , 1 Peter 3,  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, etc.. However, I think Philippians 2 is one of the BEST passages to put into action to have a HAPPY marriage in a broken world.   Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing i...

I have been asking God to SHOW me that He loves ME.....and He will take care of ME!  I know these things intellectually, but life circumstances can keep me from feeling these truths.  So I prayed "God, show me you love me and will take care of me". I waited..... Nothing!  The next day, I prayed, "God show me that you love me and will take care of me." Again, nothing!  There were things that happened.. things that reminded me of how He loved me and cared for me.    God reminded me how He cared for me and took care of me and held my marriage together when it should have fallen apart.  He reminded me that HE has caused my husband to have a good job in a terrible economy.   But I still felt that wasn't the "showing" of the answers to my prayer.  On day 9, I had a dream.  I dreamt that I was on a roller coaster with some of my friends...traveling to see a house she was building....

My class put on a Christmas play and my son, John-Michael, was a wise man.  I think the children  learned things, had fun, and made memories.   We were sad that Albert, the goat at Save The Horses, ended up dying from Goat Polio.  We was well loved and will certainly be missed.  I tried my hand at pet portraits over Christmas break.  Hopefully, they  will improve the more I do them. It was fun though.  The children eagerly awaited Christmas morning.  John-Michael's favorite gift was a drum set.  Madeline's favorite gift was a karaoke machine.  And ... Noah's favorite gift was a couple of Wii U games.   It certainly has been louder in my house. :)  Dirk, our 10 year old Schoodle had unexpected surgery. We noticed that he have several knots on his chest and back and a red growth in his mouth. He hasn't had his stitches out yet, but the pathology report showed the knots were just cys...

I love this video.... I think if men knew how much women ENJOY watching them being good dads.... they would strive even more to do things like this.    I am so thankful for my husband and his willingness to do things he doesn't necessarily WANT to do, but does it anyway..... for our kids. What a impact fathers make!    Go, Dads! Psalm 103:13 13  As a father has compassion  on his children,      so the  Lord  has compassion on those who fear him; Psalm 112 [ a ] 1  Praise the  Lord. [ b ] Blessed is the man  who fears the  Lord,      who finds great delight  in his commands. 2  His children  will be mighty in the land;      the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3  Wealth and riches  are in his house,      and his righteousness endures  forever. 4  Even in darkness light dawns...

We just got back from a quick 3 day trip to Folly Beach, South Carolina.  My mother in law was able to go with us and watch as the butterflies migrated down the Atlantic coast.  Here are some of the highlights... Madeline looked for special shells  Noah dug for treasure..  I peered at the ocean and worked to get a week ahead in my Bible study on David.  JohnMichael filled up bucket after bucket to make his own puddle to sit in Madeline buried herself..  Madeline fed the birds John-Michael fed the birds  She is burying her brother..  John-Michael pretends to be ashamed  that his sister made him into a merman. We stopped to smell the flowers.. Madeline, me, Noah, John-Michael, and Russell  My mother in law with me.. I am amazed that God has loves my family and me so well...and brought us so far.  I know He KNOWS the real me...yet He doesn't give up on me. ...

We feel a big bond with Russia.  Ten years ago we spent about two weeks there (Moscow and Krasnoyarsk) as we brought home our daughter, Madeline.  I am so grateful that the judges allowed us to bring her into our family.  I was surprised to hear that some people in Russia believe we wouldn't want these children to be our children...but as organ donors.  I was even more sadden to hear that some adults tell the older orphans that so they refuse to be adopted out of fear due to these stories. I am so thankful that a 16 Ukrainian boy was recently adopted ...when he at first said no..because he had been told these stories.  He has now been in America for 6 months or so...and he made a video to tell about his experience.  I hope the people of Russia will see this.   We...like you... want to love our children.  In America...we are already  a "melting pot"...meaning..we are many nations.  My husband is Native American, French, and B...

 I am trying to catch my blog up... several things have happened that I haven't blogged about.  My mother in law had a heart cath two days ago.  They said her heart is stable.  Good news.  However, when she came home (the same day), she saw that her Westies were taken from her yard.  Please pray she gets Jade and Bennie back.  Noah turned 14 years old.  He wanted to go eat Sushi (His daddy likes I...I do not).   He had a triple chocolate cake and went to the movies...as well as to go ride giant goKarts at a local amusement park.  Olivie', my little Pappi-poodle also had a birthday on the same day.  She is 2.  She is such a love bug.  John-Michael has been begging us to let her sleep with him and since she is a barker...and doesn't know how loud she barks...since she is deaf...we let John-Michael try it.  She is so much better at night.  Madeline and John-Michael decided I am the worst mom ever..since...