Waiting with reflection.......

Still waiting...... with great anticipation for the grand arrival of our 4th little joy....... Judah Rhodes
She looks great, she feels tired, her smile is still bright, and with her walk a little slower, a little more careful, she still shines in my eyes. I wonder if she knows how much we bubble over inside when she stops and speaks so quietly to one of the children, when we watch her control a difficult situation with grace and discipline, when she honors her husband even in times that is difficult, and when she stands in the house of the Lord with her hands held high, singing praise to her God..........
There is nothing like seeing your seeds of parenting begin to grow..........

Krystal went to the hospital last night...... contractions to the point of losing her breath..... it's 8:45 and she is on her way home. Judah gets one more day to develop into the wonderful healthy little boy as God intends him to be.

Pray with us, won't you?

Wow.... what a holiday!! And what a New Year!! Really, nothing big to report, just had a really nice time getting to be with my family and sad that due to weather conditions I didn't get to reconnect with Kevin's family over the holidays.
We all live within 45 miles of each other and none of us call or see each other. All of us being guilty of that. Kevin and I plan to correct that.

Well, if you are following Krystal's blog you know that she is now allowing labor to go full blast should it try. We just had her back in the hospital over nite last night- home now, but they will schedule an amnio to check for lung development and if it is good they will schedule a due date for induction! YES, my little pumpkin will no longer be in such pain!! I just cry and cry when I get home from helping or spending time. I wish I could do it for her, seriously.
Aaron started at BMCC and even with a hitch in his financial aid he presses on! Long story, but God is seeing him through. Now to just get a schedule down enough to catch a part time job. He really wants to contribute to us and to his social life as well! we know he is sincere.
Drop me a line, send me an email, tell me everything...... it's a new year and new outlook. Don't you just love January and the opportunity to look forward!?! XOXOXO

There are many things on the list to finish up the holiday rush. There are places to go to get it done. But one place we ALL seem to forget to visit is our prayer time.
Just when you think your day could not go any more chaotic, you realize, ..... I didn't pray today. OH, except when you needed the lower price or the shorter line, or even your burger flipped a little quicker for an extra minute or two at lunch.
God is waiting so patiently for our attention to be focused each and every day - on Him. Not just because He is "the reason for the season", but because He is Lord. Period.
I found myself "wonder-praying", you know, when you are thinking about what you need to pray about and wondering, if all of it is something He's trying to tell you in the first place.........!
Well, in the midst of my dilemma, I realized I had not even begun to walk in the very statement I try to live by........ Look at the header on this page.
The scripture is clear, yet I seem to always cloud it up. We all do.

So - for this Holiday Season. Fix your eyes, your heart, your intentions and your time...... on Him. The rest is a sled ride you could never imagine!!
I don't need more time. I just need to take time.

Happy Holidays from me to you. If you read my blog you know I love you.

It is truly amazing how so much good and bad can come at you at once. An unexpected bonus can make you smile, you break a favorite necklace and you are sad, your granddaughter tells you she "just couldn't listen today, Nana" and you giggle inside knowing that she truly is her mother's daughter and bound for greatness, a dear friend and part of your family lays in a hospital dying of several infirmities that you have no power over, also knowing that if you could go there and take their place to save your family of their hurt you would be there in an nano second, because you hurt too. Then there is the joy of watching the children get all excited for the holidays, and again, a second loved one in the hospital waiting to hear path reports for their future. In a moment of respit, I was priviledged to sing last night at the women's "Simply Beautiful, Evening in December" at our church - to hear a wonderful description of how God takes us from a lump of coal and refines, works, polishes, buffs, and then marvels at the beauty of a diamond that He holds so dear. He says that He takes splender in us.

Last night Kristi had us all exchange her gift of coal for an imperfect diamond, literally. It was a piece of cloudy glass shaped in the similarity of a large diamond at least the size of an egg...... I will find a way to wear that diamond as a necklace to remind me that I am still in process with the Lord, imperfect yet soooo valued.

I know the good will always come with some 'bad' - I know I cannot fix everything or make it work - it can be hard, though. I want to be in Arizona holding my brother and his family for as long as I need to, I want to be with Ginger, encouraging my sister her and the family, giving all of them hope and peace. The good will come. He promised. I trust Him.

On any given day - with any given situation - I may need to get that coal back to remind me of how God values me amidst the oily, blackened, hard to wash off, self of myself.

I am in love again with Darlene Zschech of Hillsong....... check out this link to a Christmas song she did with Nigel Hendroff...........WOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerxZDq-58k

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family.....

As stated above, and stamped on our hearts.....
we wish for you and encourage you.........

"Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. "Prov 4vs 25-27