What Do You See?

What do you see when you see this picture? Honestly in your heart what do you see? Maybe you see three dirty little girls....maybe you notice the dirty trash filled surroundings...and probably you will see this picture and think..."how sad" and then continue to go about your day with this picture of my sweet friends long out of your mind...
Can I tell you what I see? This was the second time I had seen these little ones. My first trip to Ethiopia to Korah I was honored to meet them. Their memory burned in my mind long after I met them and I just couldn't forget. I sent a few packages across the ocean to them just so they knew that I hadn't forgot them. Their was some anticipation in my heart as I walked up the trash filled trail, to their little home, tucked behind a small corn field. And then this moment...I cannot hardly explain this moment...it felt like time stopped just for a few seconds...the sun was hot...the buzzards and other birds were circling above the trash in the blue sky...the smell of trash and "poverty" burned at my nose...tears stung at my eyes and a lump formed once again in my throat...and a thought crossed my mind..."Dear God, why?"
And then they were jumping into my arms and I didn't care one bit that they were dirty and sick...I just knew, in that moment, that God was asking ME and HIS PEOPLE the same question...WHY? Why have you let this happen? Remember? YOU are MY HANDS and MY FEET! This is your DUTY to take care of the Fatherless and the poor.
And sometimes I wonder what good it does to travel to a place like this just to visit and then leave again at the end of the week. How can you make a difference in that amount of time? The answer? You can't really...the journey you make across the ocean is more for YOU...God is reminding you of how much he has blessed you and He is reminding you that sometimes you have to see the poverty with your own eyes before you can begin to make a difference. It doesn't do anyone any good to go visit and come home to our blessed nation and then forget. And I struggle with forgetting...not really, but I get caught up in my day to day life and I tend to forget...but that is why I love this picture...I'm remembering again this day when I saw my little friends again...and the JOY I felt in my heart to have the chance to love some of God's most precious treasures.

Cincinnati Museum Center

 A special day together as a family. Usually instead of giving our children gifts at Christmas time we pick a fun thing to do together as a family. This year was no different and we chose to spend the day in Cincinnati at the Museum. It was a good choice and while gifts usually pass away, fun times with family and making memories last forever!

 A pit stop at Taco Bell for lunch before we hit the museum

 A beautiful flag..was fun explaining to the children what the stars and strips mean!

 Getting ready to enter the Omnimax

 So cool...and some of us were VERY excited to "explore" per say under the ocean!

 Favorite continent!

 Beautiful saying!

 fat mirrors

 Three blessings that God has intrusted Britton and I with for just a short time...days are fleeting and flying by

 This was a major hit! Nothing like playing with water!

 This picture shows the reality of the day...yes we were both still sick and our outing cost us a couple Christmas gatherings...guess we should have stayed home and fully recovered

 Neat Coke machine

 end of our day...tired children

We ended our day with supper from Olive Garden. Such a good day with our family! As parents we realize that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is "time" and that may not always mean going away together as a family. Time to love each other and time to teach our children all that we know about this world and our great God.

A little Trip....

.....Down Memory Lane.....my little cutie pies......memories before sister came home.....sweetness!

A Letter To My Children About Marriage

Dear Children,
Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things that I want you to know.
Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must understand that marriage is Gods design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.
To my girl(s)~
Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show him gratitude and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.
To my boys~
Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that she may be hard to please ;) Only if you don't know "the secret". The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won't always readily translate the "oil change" to love, though it means that. But let me give you a "secret question" - a question you need to ask her often. Its not just in the asking though, be sure to focus on her, maybe even touch her shoulder or her face, and then ask: "whats on your mind these days?" And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection...and compliments...that's what she wants.
If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day.
If you find yourself "not happy", having lost attraction, disinterested etc. you are not permitted to even think about divorce. If you find yourself arguing more and more, don't think for a minute that the children will be better off without this, because they wont.
The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before the Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don't feel like it. You swore a solem oath and if you cant live up to it, don't get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation if your "marriage house" has no door.
Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.
Divorce is not a "private option". It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you "separate what God has joined" you permanently injure far more then just yourself.
Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as a extension of your flesh, just as God sees you.

I want you to be happy...I surely do...But I will pray for you to be holy...I love you...Mom

*I do not take credit for writing this on my own...although I did add and subtract some words from the original "letter"

Looking forward to posting Christmas pictures! Happy New Year 2013!!!!!

For my boys *someday*

TWENTY THINGS A MOM SHOULD TELL HER SON

1. Play a sport.
It will teach you how to win honorably,
lose gracefully, respect authority,
work with others, manage your time

and stay out of trouble.
And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone
for the sexual relationship,
so don't take something away from her
that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee.
Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young
because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you
to the dishwasher, oven,
washing machine, iron,
vacuum, mop and broom.
Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully
and don't ever start a fight,
but if some idiot clocks you,
please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something
that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly.
Forever is a long time to live alone
and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do.
This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M.
Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

 13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir"
still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts"
is because they're "private".
Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing.
Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason
is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind
than to be right.

18. A sense of humor
goes a long way
in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely.
My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother
because I might be missing you.

 

 

*to my boys....you are both so precious to me....I love you to the moon and back forever and ever. You will always be my babies*

Take care of the Golf balls first!

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles roll

ed into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Cokes from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coke represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The coke just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Cokes with a friend

*On voting*

  Wonderful words from one of my favorite Evangelists....it reads:

The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren and this great nation is crucial. As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God.