YUMstinkinEEEE

Here's to you, Sixbit!










Guess what tomorrow April 30 is? Did you happen to guess 31cent night at Baskin Robbins! Whoo hoo can you believe all the cheap ice cream!

Guess STINKIN What!?!

Tomorrow, April 29th is FREE CONE DAY at Ben and Jerrys! GO! GO! GO! - But don't get in line ahead of us!!!! We are going in honor of the man who introduced us to Free Cone Day - Sixbit, himself - who never EVER missed a Free Cone Day once he learned of its existence! So, here's to you "Never miss a Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's" man! (doesn't that sound a little like those beer commercials?)

God has such a beautiful way of showing Himself to us. He is in the Words on the pages of the Bible, He is in a well timed song on the radio, He is in the beauty of the sunset, He is in the unexpectedness of the day, He is everywhere and He wants you to look for Him. He says that those that earnestly seek Him will find Him. It used to be hard for me to recognize God in my day. I even tried exercises to help me see Him - like every night before bed I would write down my "God Stops" (for those of you that have never done Beth Moore's Believing God bible study - God Stops are moments in your day that you recognize God working in your life). I know that I am still missing much - BUT He is here and ALIVE and working powerfully in my life. I see Him everywhere and I see His hand in my life in virtually everything. I think that this is a glimpse of what Heaven is like -

(is anyone sick of my Maui pictures?)

Shout Out

YAY for FRIENDS! A big FAT shout out to all my friends - I know without a doubt that I take advatage of each of you. You guys have helped me through these last few months in such a HUMONGOUS way. You have swept my floors, made us dinners and DESSERTS (yummy!!), cleaned our potties, cheered at soccer games, sent so many letters of encouragement, prayed for us, laughed with us, cried with us, brought us prizes, and many other things - to numerous to name. But it makes me want to jump right in to a "Friends are Friends Forever" chorus. Mrs. J where are you when I need you?

I love each and every one of you - and there are alot of yous. I appreciate all that you have done for my precious dear little family. I know that I haven't been great at sending thank yous BUT I do appreciate all the things you do both big and small.

Also, a whopping big shout out to my special family - all sides of my family. You are each so dear to me and I know that this circumstance has brought us all so close - funny how things like this can do that.

Cast! What Cast?

B got his cast off - FINALLY. He has ONLY had it for 10 weeks. AND there is only one word for what we saw - DISGUSTING! The cast remover guy said that B definitely won the award for most sand inside a cast EVER! IT was amazing that there was any sand left on the playground and that his leg isn't completely exfolitated OFF! The dr said that he still must take it easy for another 3 weeks. Baseball season is pretty much a wash at this point. Oh well - he is still pretty happy to be a part of the team even if he has only warmed up with them ONCE! Isn't it great to be a kid.

My dad has started his week of testing at MD Anderson. It doesn't really sound all that fun - but I have been reassured lately that some of the most rewarding things spiritually AREN'T always FUN! Keep him in your prayers and I am still praying for "Cancer! What Cancer?"

Saturday, April 19

WE are super duper excited to see our friends from There's Treasure blog. Her and her little boy are coming for a visit - they get here today. She is so fun and we all miss them very much. They moved away almost 2 years ago - wow! has it really been that long?!

C has her last soccer game of the season today and it is a beautiful day for a last soccer game. The weather here has been so weird - Thursday we woke to snow flurries when the day before we were all talking about being hot! And then on Friday it went back to short sleeve weather. If you know me at all - then you know that I would much rather it be warm than cold. So bring on the beautiful weather.

Please pray for a "no cancer" report from the drs on Monday for my dad. He is headed to Houston to MD Anderson to get started with this next phase of treatment. AND God is definitely able to make this prayer a reality.

Have a GREAT weekend! I know we will!

Object Lesson

I was sitting out front playing with the kids the other day and God brought this lesson to mind. My garden has always brought me happiness and has been a source of growth but somehow it has never been exactly how I want it to look. I WANT loads and loads of color and blooms. Since we have moved in I have made minor changes and added plants here and there - but have never really done anything drastic.

The above picture is what Brent and I did to the garden this time last year. We stripped it bear (except for the bushes). We dug up all the bulbs and plants and I rearranged and replanted the plants where I wanted them. We also bought some new periennals and added them to the garden. The picture below is what the garden looks like this year - a mere one year later.

My point here is that God can and often does take drastic measures with us so that our true colors will SHINE forth. The process can often be painful - but painful doesn't mean worthless. We all but destroyed the garden to get it to be a masterpiece - and next year it will be even prettie. God wants us to be the people He wants us to be - He is continually shaping and molding us (sanctification). I am not there, yet - but am striving and looking forward to the beauty that comes from drastic measures.

AMAZING GRACE

I was all set to share a different post when I opened my email and the gal over at Fiveafamily had sent me this sweet story. It is too amazing and beautiful not to share. This 90 year old woman was in the process of being held up with a gun when she witnessed to him for 10 minutes. I tell you what - God is INCREDIBLE and if you don't know that by now - YOU SHOULD! It isn't enough to just believe that He exists - for even the devil knows God is real. You must walk hand in hand with
God knowing that He sent His Son who willingly gave His life for your sins so that you could walk hand in hand with Him. I tell you what - I don't know where I would be without Him. I am walking victoriously over my current situation because I am walking with Christ through my situation. Please watch this ladies sweet story -

IT is DONE

I have finally finished Brent's marker for his grave. We found out that we could design it - and so that is the path we took. As I looked around at all the different stones the cemetary had to offer - well, none of them seemed to be special enough for my Sixbit. So, the kids and I designed one special for our special man.

I am attaching the picture here - just remember that it will be on a black granite stone so the black that you see will actually be white and the all the white you see will actually be black. The kids drew the pictures with the mullet man being drawn by none other than the boy in the family. I am so thankful that this is finally done - and for those of you who have gone out there looking for him - after this weekend you can finally find him! I also put a big black box to protect identity somewhat. (that is obviously NOT there on the actual stone.)

Daddy, This One is for YOU

My Daddy had his first routine 3 month check up for the cancer and it is back and growing. He is now headed to MD Anderson in Houston for some really strong Chemo with a bone marrow transplant thrown in. Please pray for my daddy to walk by FAITH. I have been thinking alot lately about why things happen in our lives the way they do and my conclusion is just like Jeremy Camps - because the circumstances in our lives prepare us for our meeting with God.

This song is really awesome and Jeremy Camp gives his testimony about how and why he wrote it. It is a little lengthy - but so worth listening to. I added the lyrics to the end. I love ya, Daddy.

Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to RID my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya

well i will walk by faith
even when i cannot see
because this broken road
prepares your will for me

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me
(Repeat)
Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Hallelujah, hallelu


I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith
I will walk,I will walk
Faith
I will walk, I will walk by faith

SIX MONTHS

Here we are - the first REALLY big mile marker. There have been other mile markers and they are all big in their own way - BUT early on, the 6 month marker seemed to loom ahead of me. I remember telling my mom during that first week, that I couldn't even begin "to do" 6 months down the road - BUT I could "do" today and I knew that if I kept plugging away one day at a time that in 6 months I would be able to "do" it because it would finally be TODAY. AND here it is - I always remember the Saturdays because that was our last day together.

In some ways it feels like forever and in others it feels like ONLY yesterday. During this time God has used songs to comfort me - One of my favorites is Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns. Thank you, Leslie for sharing this song with me. It really seems to hit the nail right on the head with its words. I feel so steeped in my sorrow lately - but amongst all this pain I know that I am right where God wants me. He is refining me with His precious hand and I am grateful and I will praise Him EVEN when my soul is hurting. He is faithful. God has NOT promised me that my life would be pleasant and that it would be without painful trials. For it is IN these painful trials that my walk with Him grows so intimately. I would NOT trade this experience for anything -

I looked for a video version of this song - but did not like any of the ones that I saw. So, I took the liberties of making my own. Thanks for LaughterThoughts for supplying the photos from the funeral. BUT be warned - ***this might be hard to watch ***- there ARE pictures from the funeral mixed in. The lyrics are below the video.




I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will life my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Just say THANKS

This morning in my God time - I sat outside in the warm calm sun and read 1 Thessalonians 3. Paul was telling the Thessolonians how happy he was to hear from Timothy about their faith and love. These people were new christians that Paul never quit praying for and he was super overjoyed to hear that they hadn't fallen away. Paul didn't get to be with them for very long while he was establishing their church and I am not too sure he ever made it back to see them. But it brought great joy to Paul to see that they were maturing with his loving help from afar. This makes me think about Brent - most of you know the story that he is the reason that I am a firm believer. Brent is the reason that I decided to give my life to God. I knew he would only marry me if I was a believer - he would NOT be unequally yoked. So, I became a believer and he lovingly encouraged me on my journey. On Mother's day my cards (homemade ALWAYS) would say how proud he was with me spritually and what a godly example I was to the kids. He cheered me on and encouraged me and I think I took him for granted. I can't really ever remember telling him thanks for the BIGGEST thing in my life. Thanks for helping me see my need for my Saviour BUT not only that for helping to GROW. I say this - because if there is someone like this in your life who has helped you with your maturity in Christ - maybe you want to tell them THANKS. It might be just what they need to hear!

As for the picture - well, we all know that pictures make blog entries more exciting. I was perusing this old computer's photo library (since I dropped my laptop and it is in the shop getting a huge overhaul and I am relegated to the computer ROOM with a computer with a cord!!!) and I found this picture from last summer when Jenny came for a visit and we all went to Santa Fe. Brent and B were sitting in front of this mountain lion and they are supposed to be posing like they are about to be attacked. I think it is FUNNY.