Thank you for setting such a Biblical example...

My morning Bible reading was especially sweet this morning. I was reading I Thessalonians 2 and this jumped out at me:

11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

God had a 2-fold message for me this morning: 1) thankfulness for all of the people in my life who have done exactly this and 2) reminding me that this is how God wants me to treat other people in my life.

So I would like to thank a few of the people God brought to mind: Uncle Ray and Aunt Ruby, Pastors Mitzi and Lynne, the small group in Michigan, and of course our home fellowship group here in Mississippi.

Lord, please help me to follow your leading today and every day! Thank you for everything - even those things I don't understand. As I teach my children your ways are not ours and your plans are perfect - ours are flawed.

Blessings!!

Weekend of Blessings!

Where to begin???

Well, my Dad's surgery went even better than the first one! NO swelling! (Is that actually possible- I guess so since that is the report I received.)

We had a very successful yard sale!

I was able to stay home on Saturday and spend a day with the fam!

Sat night was a royal adveture complete with a palace. As we wished Bryan best wishes and prayers as he ascends to the sky to journey to Israel.

We got to eat out! ... more than once! (We'll have to pull that back into line - quickly.)

Josiah is doing very well with potty training!

Mia is learning, learning, learning!

We have groceries!

We have gas!

We have the Lord!

We have family!

We have friends!

We are truly blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fear- how quickly it grows.

I opened my email this morning and read an e-mail from Jared. Welcome surprise since we haven't heard from him in a while. The subject of his e-mail: fear and how with God it can quickly be overcome.

As I sit reading I hear a distinct rattling in the foil that remains on some of my windows to block the Mississippi summer heat. I decide to go investigate expecting a tree roach. But when I raise the blinds I see ... a tail hanging out from under the foil. My first thought - scaredy cat that I am - mouse. But silly me realizes that if it were a mouse I would see a bulge in the foil.

So I begin to remove the foil to find exactly what I am now expecting, a gecko. Lizard - mouse almost equally as repulsive and scary. For the first time - I am very grateful there was no screen in that window!!!!! I just opened the window and directed the gecko out into the bush.

Thank you Lord, for the small things like a missing screen in the right place and time.

Wonders never cease....

When I lay things down at my Lord's feet it is amazing what happens. Several weeks ago I was laying down my self esteem or lack there of. When the gracious one himself showed me exactly what my husband and I accomplish together.

• raising children
• running a household
• two jobs

And suddenly he added homeschool to that list of things that we do together with him and guess what? The three of us are pretty competent.

Now today he adds a new one:

I can function on about 5-6 hours of very broken sleep and handle the busiest day at work I have had yet. Amazing!

Thank you Lord for using me as a vessel. Thank you for giving my boss confidence in me to allow me to see that I could handle what has been dished out to me. Lord I pray that I have handled all of this with grace and dignanty and treated each person involved as you would want me too. Please forgive me if I mishandled the dispatcher last night.

Amazing revelation! I am woman hear me roar! I am on a mission with a vision and a passion.

I can't wait to see what's next and yet I am ready for a nap.

Thank you, Lord.

For libraries, horse-back riding lessons, for women's resource centers, for husband's who are incredibly patient, for children who love you even when you didn't handle the discipline right, for times of reflection, for groceries, for friends, for miracles, for flexible jobs, for mercy and grace.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

My God shall meet all your needs through his riches in glory. Phil 4:19

Thank you for your Word- I don't have to remember everything- I can just look it up.

And most of all thank you Lord for your sovereignty in all things.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance...mature and complete. James 1:2-4

You are blessed!