Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there. My mother's day has just been a reminder of what it means to be a mom some days. I have 3 sick children. I was up until 5am with one of them. She has strep, asthma acting up and then she was put on steroids so she was awake all night long. The others are restless but not well enough to do anything. One is just now coming down with what looks like strep but not sure yet. She is laying pitifully next to me.
Being a mom has it's ups and downs but both are such a true blessing. Though tired, I enjoyed the time I spent with dd last night. Though we missed worship this morning we did get to gather around and watch is streamed live. Though I am beyond tired I am so joyful that I have the priviledge of caring for these 4 little persons God has entrusted me with. They are as different as night and day. You would never know they all came from the same two parents. But then, you would see some qualities in each of them that are distinctively how we behave as a family.
I often wonder how God manages to create such unique beings in each and everyone of us. He says in His word that we are "wonderfully and fearfully made and that everything he makes is marvelous". Marvelous? As I know my own heart I wonder how I can be marvelous according to the God of the universe. But then I remember, on good days or bad, my children are marvelous in my sight. I know their flaws, their character issues but I also know their hearts. Knowing their hearts is what makes me love them and see nothing but "Marvelous" in them. Isn't it just like God to create a realtionship that would give us a glimpse into His heart. He says that children are a "reward from the Lord". I have done nothing to deserve a reward, but the reward comes in allowing me to gain a better understanding of the God I serve.
I pray that as you mother the gifts God has given you that you take advantage of that little peek God gives us into His heart.
What a wonderful thing to celebrate; Mother's Day. Not because I am a mother but because God has chosen me for this high calling that I may be sanctifed through my children as He lets me see His heart through them.

Christmas Eve

I know I have not blogged in a long while and am hoping to catch up on blogging in the next few days. But I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Chistmas. As the world shuts down to celebrate this time I pray you are able to experience peace, a peace that was brought to the world when our Saviour was born and which we can have so long as we call Jesus our Lord and Savior.
May this season focus you on our beloved Lord who became Savior on the cross at Calvary. We celebrate his advent into this world as we look forward to the advent of His second coming.
Come Lord Jesus!

Mom, Dad, Sister, Lee, Babe, Bill if you are out there, and all those attached to you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We love you all!

18 years together!~

Today was our 18th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately we were so busy and tired we did not get to spend much time celebrating. But, we both smiled at each other and laughed at the day. After being together this long (though I know it is not long compared to some), just being together is what matters. We worshipped the Lord together, napped together for a short time, went to a meeting together, counseled a struggling marriage together and now we are about to spend some time playing cards with the kids together. What a joy it is to be able to just love being together. We have a date scheduled for later in the week but as for today, we just enjoyed life together. God has blessed our marriage greatly and has allowed us the opportunity to help other marriages and for this we are very grateful. The Lord has allowed us to endure great trials and pulled us through them all. It has been a journey with both highs and lows but well worth it in the long run.
Thank you Mom and Dad for your example to us being married 50 years. We look forward to the day we will be there.

Most of my heart left for camp today.

I watched my dh and 3 of my 4 children drive away today to go to camp. I was fine until my dd who is staying home began to sob as she began to miss her brothers and sister and daddy. Then as I waved good-bye to my oldest son his eyes were so sad. I ran around to the other side of the bus to see my baby sobbing and reaching out for me. My oldest dd came and held him and I was so glad she was going.
I know many wives have had to say good-bye to their dh's for months at a time and I have always hurt for them and cried for them. Today, I watched most of my heart drive away. I knew I would be sad, but I did not anticipate the ache in my heart. I am so thankful that my youngest dd is here with me along with T, who is toddling about and keeping me very busy. It is only for a few days that I will be separated from them but it still makes me miss them so much.
So, that will explain the new ticker. Counting down the days until my heart is restored.
I am so grateful to have a loving God who has put it within us to love so deeply that we might get a small taste of how much He loves us. What a hope we have in knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that no separation will ever be permanant.