It's Father God moving His furniture

The Sun is setting and the clouds are rolling in. Thunder is rumbling, Bolts of light are cracking. There is something about a thunderstorm that puts me in awe. I am amazed and relaxed. I never used to be that way.

Like my middle daughter, I used to be scared when they came rolling in. She is constantly looking out the window to make sure there are no big winds coming. The loud booms that sneak up on her, put fear in her eyes. I'm always telling her not to worry, that it's just Father God moving His furniture. That's what my Mama always told me.

It's funny how things get passed down from generation to generation. Like my daughter and I, My Mama and her Mama used to be scared of them too.  Only my Grandmother was so terrified that she would lock everyone in the closet til it was over. Now that was FEAR. My Mama did not pass that on, she stopped it, she stopped the fear. It's up to us what we pass down to our children. Instead she replaced the fear with humor and whimsy. My Mom needed humor during her childhood because Grandma was mentally ill. So she replaced the hurt and pain with whimsy and laughter. And some how she made it through. She went on to become an Amazing Mother. She refused to pass on what was given to her. Now, Mama and I welcome the storms with whimsy and laughter.

10. Thunderstorms
11. My Mama's Laughter
12. My Mama

New Life

What you can see when you take the time to notice. It's Saturday morning and with the sun brings a new born calf. Mama had him last night.

All around me there seems to be new life.

As the jasmine blooms.........

And our garden grows, it's all a sign, a symbolism of the new life you can have when you accept the one who gave His life.

And like a bird you can soar through the rest of your life, the rest of your new life knowing that your eternal home will be heavenly. For heaven is what we are truly reaching for.This is not our final destination. As new life springs forth, won't you think about your life? The new life that was meant for you and me. He paid it all. He did the work, He took the pain and turned it into Grace and Mercy. So we could begin again.

Yes.......... new life is all around me, reminding me of the One who gave His life, for you........ for me......for her.

7. New life
8. Flowers blooming
9. Sleeping baby

Glorious Gift Giver

Gifts given, thankfully accepted. It's been 0ver six years since I rocked my last baby. I had given everything away. I thought surely four would be enough, but God knew better, He knew I'd change my mind.

It's not only for the gifts that I am thankful , but also for the friends who gave them. You wouldn't of known it when I came home that night. Tired and grumpy, I undress and get ready for bed. My man asks "what is wrong?" and I grumble out a few moans...."Didn't you just receive many gifts?" Yes I said. Then his words that followed next hit hard and opened me wide. "After all these gifts, you are still grumpy?"

This man of mine that loves me through all my craziness, and keeps me grounded when life takes flight. As simple as they were, his words ran deep. Are we all not given at least one gift a day? I know of one gift that was given so long ago. And the ones who have received this gift are still grumpy, including me at times.

I need to worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2 
For He has given many gifts and continues the gift giving every day.

There is a blog that I read every day and this woman started a grattitude community. Which means she gives thanks every day. She is trying to get to 1000 thankful gifts. I think it's time I do the same. Won't you join me?

1. His blood that washes me clean.
2. His mercy and grace.
3. the gift of friendship.
4. My man's wisdom.
5. Tiny hands that fit so delicatley into mine.
6. My Skye was given to me 8 years ago today.

I give thanks and praise with Joy in my heart, to my Glorious Gift Giver.

Two days until forgiveness

My tongue cracks hard, like the sound of a whip. Here I go treading this same road again. She didn't mean to, she just bent down to give her baby sister a kiss, when her duffle bag came swinging around and hit the smallest one in the head.

Like a Mama bear protects her cubs, the teeth start to show and the loud roar begins. But it came at the wrong time. The anger should of never been. It was just an accident. I knew that,  I lashed out before I had a chance to hold it back.

My heart hurts....and she is not here for me to hold and tell her how sorry I am. I have to wait two days. Two days in thought of how my words cut deep and drew small tears. Two days before I can tell her how much she means to me. Two days before I am able to ask for forgiveness.

The phone rang after she left. It was her asking how baby sister was. I told her she was fine, that it just scared her. Scared me. I love you I said....."I love you too." Still I wish I could hug her and tell her I love her. This Beautiful girl that one day will move mighty mountains with her faith. I could learn a thing or two from her wisdom, I'm learning now. Sometimes I think she is so much further beyond where I need to be.

She is my sunshine when my skies are grey. My little sunshine you'll never know dear, how much I love you!

 Forgive me.

Getting Lost in the Clouds

As the clouds roll in I get lost in thought, lost in the puffy whiteness of it all. Some days I wonder.......I wonder how in the world did I get here. I was called, called to be His servant. Called for His purpose, not mine. It was never about me. Even before I knew Him, He knew me.  In all my weakness. He saw how dirty my soul had become.

And yet He still chose me. Waiting for me to find Him. Ever so patient with me, knowing that when the time was just right I would come around.

With tears filling my eyes and feeling so ashamed I knelt down, took His name and wrote it on my heart. And as His mercy flowed over my soul and His grace picked me up. I became His child. Every horrid thing I had done, had been forgotten.

I must confess, that it wasn't till much later when I discovered that one little prayer of asking Him to come into my heart was not a free ticket, not a right of passage to do whatever I wanted. Saying I'm sorry and then doing it again, was not living for Him. I was still living for me.  True repentance is what He is after.  Forgivness is what I seek, everyday. Slowly I am becoming the child He wants me to be.

And yet His mercy still flows and His grace still comes. He is ever so patient with me. He directs my path and shows me the way.......He shows me the way, every day, because I still fall, I still fail.

Wisdom comes to those who are humbled to learn. When you believe you have arrived....It is then that you have just begun. For you truly will never know it all, but you surely can learn much on this fleeting moment we call life.

My moments in the clouds are all too often, too few. That, I am still learning.....I'm learning how to make time to get lost in His puffy whiteness. It is there that I find Him and I can think more clearly when I come down.

His mercy still flows and His grace still comes.

Come on let's go for a walk!

Have you ever seen such a magnificent blue? The plumes on his head, he looks like he's dressed for the ball. His coat tails are like no other I've seen. Could such beauty come from an explosion?

Ever since I was a little girl my Daddy would say, "come on let's go for a walk!" I guess that's why I love to walk today. Not just to walk, but to explore. This is God's country.  My kids are following in my footsteps as I did with my Dad.

It's amazing to me how everything has it's place and a purpose. My little mind can't wrap around such things. Then again it's not suppose to. We are here to stand in awe and in praise of the one who created all things. All creatures great and small.

Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose, and the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7

 Nothing else makes sense, nothing else comes together. Beauty does not crawl out of the water in the form of a fish and then transform into something as magnificent as the peacock.

I really would encourage you to go for a walk, take your kids and camera. All God created things are AMAZING! Your faith will grow, and if your not sure what you believe, it should surely make you ask questions and explore more.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. Ralph Waldo Emmerson

For a good start on your creation verses evolution study Go to http://www.wayofthemaster.com/
And there is a really good book for science class ---Evolution The Grand Experiment By Dr. Carl Werner. There is also a dvd set called Incredible Creatures that defy Evolution

We had a good walk.

Louder than the buzzing of a thousand bees.

Blossoms are in abundance this year. We have been here over 15 years now, and this the first year I've seen this row of trees come in full bloom.

Along with the blooms comes the buzzing of a thousands bees. They were loud enough that their buzz brought us outside. We broke away from the books to take a look. My boys are watching the bees and I am watching my boys. The little one is his shadow. My gentle giant, that's what I call him. He has passed me in height now.

I miss him already. He hasn't gone any where, but someday he will. This little man of mine with his big blue eyes and his soft blond curls, that use to sit in my lap and snuggle with me. Sometimes it seemed like we would stay in the rocking chair all day. He has always been gentle, quiet and sweet. His sister would disagree with me.

 He loves his Mama. I don't believe he has ever raised his voice to me but, I have to him........that hurts to think about.The bees were loud, but my voice has been louder than the buzzing of a thousand bees. I hope that when he leaves home some day that he won't remember me raising my voice too much. That is something I am still working on, And with God I am doing better. I just hope I was not too late. They always say better late than never........But I know that's not always true.

 They also say you are much harder on your first child. I wonder if he even realizes how much I love him, or how much he has taught me over the years. My Sweet Gentle Giant if I could go back in time and erase all of the mistakes I've made while learning how to be a good mommy, I truly would.

I cherish you!

What will your ending be?

Every life has a beginning. We don't get to choose our beginning but, we get to choose our ending.

Their eyes meet for the first time. This is her beginning. This truck driver Daddy of mine drove 1200 hundred miles to make his appointment. And our home is a rest area, a much needed stop along the way. Not only for him but for me, for us.

I've gazed into this mans eyes all my life. I've seen the way they twinkled when he was proud of me, I've seen the pain that I all too often put there. I've seen the laughter, but most of all when I look into his eyes I see a Father's love.

He had a close call. It took us by surprise. What we thought was going to be routine became urgent and serious. This man has helped shape me into who I am today.  He held me in his arms the same way he is holding her. That same sweet gaze. With that same gentle voice, calming and reassuring. Such a strong presence in my life. It's scary to think what the future brings. It's inevitable. We all have an ending. What matters most is what we choose to do before the end.



I'm so blessed that his time has been lengthened. Prolonged to see his 5th grandchild, to hold her and gaze into her eyes. I'm so thankful that I still get to gaze into those eyes.

But most of all I'm so blessed to know that when his ending comes in this life that his life begins again in the heavenly arms of our Father. He chose his ending years ago. He chose to accept God's Son. To live with Him eternally.

I can't imagine having to say Good bye. Never being able to gaze into those eyes ever again. Life is so unpredictable. Tell someone you love, about Jesus. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in the end.

What will your ending be, a happy ending, or a sad ending?

It Was A "Good" Friday

It was "Good" Friday and we had started our day with video music clips of The Passion of Christ. As my children and I sat and watched Him be put up on that cross, the tears began to flow. No matter how many times I see it or hear it I can not help but be overwhelmed with such a wide range of emotions.

My youngest son asked, "Mama he did this for me?" Yes for you and me.

 He accepted Christ a year ago, but never really knew the full extent of what Jesus had went through. Watching the short clips really set the mood for our egg coloring this year.

All of the other years they knew what it was about, but knowing it and truly feeling it are two different things. I believe the more you walk with Christ the more you feel what He feels. My children felt His love a little bit stronger on "Good" Friday.

 I did not instruct any of them on what to do with their eggs. Each one of them working so quietly. Doing their own thing. Not paying any attention to eachother.

And then one by one they would show me their egg creations. This year they are feeling it.....they are feeling how much He loves us. They are feeling how much it cost. They are feeling those wide range of emotions. So sad that it had to take place, but so thankful that it did.

Each egg had it's own interpretation of the Cross and our Saviors resurrection. The one above is the stone being rolled away. Instead of just coloring them they put feeling and meaning into their creations.

My oldest daughter asked, " Why do they call it "Good" Friday?" And my answer was...... because He went through with it. Can you imagine if He had called ten thousand angels to take Him from that cross, and she replied "that would be a "Bad" Friday".

And the emotion that we will all feel on Easter Sunday is Great JOY!  For He is ALIVE!!!!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that who ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have etenal life. John 3:16