Visit from Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa, who flew in from far away Phoenix, left a few days ago after spending a couple of days with us. I wish all the Grandparents lived nearby because they all have so much to offer the younger generation. I always enjoy hearing how they see the kids in comparison in remembering little Kenny. It makes me love Kenny and the little ones all the more. We spent most of our time at home since they had so much more traveling to do and it is really the best place to be if one wants to catch up with another. We did take dinner over to Kenny's Aunt and Uncle who live nearby because this Aunt and Uncle have a very special relationship with his mom and dad. The Aunt is his Mom's sister and the Uncle is his Dad's brother! His Aunt is so young that she is the same age as one of his sisters. His mom was the oldest of 10. She had 8 herself. I remember the days when we first married and they still had four teens living at home. We would sit around the table drinking a pot of coffee at their home laughing and talking till the wee hours of the morning. (talking about important issues was and still is this side of the family's favorite pastime) The young married couples would pop in and out and even crash for the weekends. We all miss those days. But now I see how good it is that they have some kind of rest from the constant activity. I know they still feel for and pray for all of their grandkids like always. We feel blessed to have them make the long trip to come see us.
I met a lady, who was ooohing and aahing the children, in the grocery store today. She ended up telling me how she was one of 16. She said they "always knew how to have a good time without pushing buttons" and she said she "taught children that praying was just talking to God like you would talk to her". She and I both got a little teary eyed as we talked about how insecure things are for most kids these days. I just feel so frustrated that we lock our old people and our young up in institutions all day when they could touch our society in so many ways. Like John Gatto , author of Dumbing us Down says, " we are not reminded of our past or think of our future" when we live like this. We live in networks and not communities. I wish I could have heard all the stories this elderly woman had stored up inside.

The Obedience of Faith -RISING ABOVE

....NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO ESTABLISH YOU BY THE GOOD NEWS AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MYSTERY WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET .... BUT NOW IS MADE KNOWN AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS....AND BY THE COMMANDMENT OF THE EVERLASTING GOD IS MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH: TO GOD ONLY WISE, BE GLORY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST FOR EVER. AMEN

Rise above the turbulence

OBEDIENCE OF FAITH
Sometimes I get so busy that I don't take the time to think enough, pray enough, or to just be still. Whether it's my inherited nature or a restless heart I know the command to "Be still and know that I am God" therefore it must be a key to walking in peace. Well I have been thinking about several points. The first is how most of our disobedience or failures or even temptations derive from believing lies. If I truly believed what the truth was about how God sees something or what he says about something then my faith would be followed by action -by obedience. One of the problems is Satan still gets to us today just like he did in the beginning and that is he LIES. We start to believe that God is not really there loving us, or we think that sin has something to offer our hurting soul, or that the eternal rewards are not really worth enduring this life of suffering, or that laying down our lives for others means we will be forgotten, or that loving the unlovely or having mercy on others will only humiliate us, or we better take control and look out for ourselves. How many times has the sin that has entangled us begun with a deceiving thought?

Another thought is - if we know God's love and ways are better than what the world has to offer then how can that truth be made known to those who are so lost? I know God is the one who draws but it says "how beautiful are the feet that bring good news" As followers I know we need to be living proof that his ways are awesome, his presence is satisfying, and His love is really in our hearts. People need to come to the Lord because He is better than what they know now and not out of fear or guilt (even thought he will use both) but the relationship based on love is truly the most fulfilling. Let us get our focus off of our own problems and look around at those who need to see HIM alive on this earth. LET'S LIVE THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH ---LET FAITH MOTIVATE US TO OBEY!!!!!! FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS TRULY LOVE.. I am having fun preaching at myself. --ha

The Boys

John is just a good kid. At least he has a very tolerant and tolerable temperment. He hardly ever needs correction. I am wondering if his struggles will be more evident later on but for now he is a joy. He just finished his second year of soccer and he is still as fast as ever. Mom to Cherubs , who by the way does a great job,coached his team. John loved every minute of it.

Paul has been busy playing in weekend baseball tournaments this spring. He is sitting in front of a beautiful mountain creek that we visited this past weekend. We lean on Paul quite a bit to help with the little ones and they both adore him.

Joseph has been a bit more serious lately and is determined to not let his dominant big sister dominate him. He snubbed me when I returned from the hospital and it took me a few days to win him back. Hmm... he may be the "hold a grudge" type.

Josh is a real pleasure to listen to as he has been teaching himself to play the guitar. He also runs the house for us whenever we are sick or on a date. He is almost done with his Freshman year and has applied himself well. He plays golf and tennis and football with friends and family and likes to encourage Paul in baseball until he begins his own season in June. He keeps us laughing with his mimicking skills. He also is busy at work with Kenny and his Uncle in the office several times a week.

The Girls

Sarah loving the outdoors
Lily - happy to be free this past weekend

This crazy girl came waltzing out of the barn and through the yard with her arms full. She managed to open the cage door and scoop them both up.
Sleeping as only sisters can

Lily's Struggle

Thanks to everyone for loving and praying for this wonderful girl of ours. She is amazing! Her ability to cope calls for strength and faith from all of us. We only had to spend a day and a half at the Children's hospital to get her seizures under control. Lisa at Shadybrookacres (link to the right) posted a few more details than I will. We are just happy to have not seen her have any more seizures after nearly 100 in 24 hours. (These can be described as clonic seizures that are usually lasting near a minute). It was tough but we had hope that she would come out of it soon since she had trouble similiar to this a few years ago. It made me remember the people I met during Lily's brain surgery 9 years ago who had to live with much more heartache and trouble with their children's seizures than we generally do. There are times in all of our lives where we can just call on God's name and trust Him. Anyway she has been seizure free since Friday night.

Thank you to mom to cherubs and three other friends for sending meals and of course mom and Lisa are always willing to stop everything to help. Thanks also to my loving nieces who love the babies!!