6 years of wonderful memories...

In the midst of our busy household due to the fact we are packing for our upcoming move i just had to take some time to journal my feelings and emotions as i pack 6 years of wonderful memories into boxes.

The past few days have been very emotional for me as i go room by room packing all of our things. Each room is becoming more empty as i fill each new box. The kids rooms are especially hard. Their rooms resembled them with all of their favorite decor and toys. Both kids loved spending time in their own individual rooms but now the walls are empty and everything is in boxes. It doesn't look like Thomas and Katelyn's room anymore and that makes me kind of sad. We all had so much fun playing with them, reading stories to them and praying over them every single day we were in this house.

Our master bedroom was very special for the fact that we got our daily dose of snuggles as both kids would run in our room every morning so they could snuggle with us. I sure hope they don't ever outgrow this.

The kitchen was special for all the different favorite foods i was able to prepare for my family. I loved sitting at the table eating dinner listening to how my husbands day was and listening to the kids tell dad what went on at home all day. I also love the kitchen because the kitchen table is where the kids and i gathered round for the last fives years for homeschooling. I feel so blessed that i had the opportunity to be able to be a stay at home mom and teach our kids.

I love our living room! So many things happened in the living room from watching a favorite movie while eating popcorn, playing boardgames all night long, having friends over, family bible studies and having o' dourves while watching the Superbowl every year.

But....i must say i think one of my absolute favorite parts of our house was our super long bowling alley like hallway. We had so much fun in that hallway. Not only was it long but it was extra wide. During the cold winter months we played nerf -bowling, soccer, golf, hockey, football, baseball and many more sports. Robert would put the kids on a blanket and pull them down the hallway to where they would just laugh so hard. I just absolutely loved to hear the pitter patter of their feet run up and down that hallway for the past 6 years..especially when they would run down the hallway into the living room every Christmas. To see the excitement on their faces was pure joy for us.

This house is a home full of love, joy, growth....6 years full of wonderful memories i will take with me where ever i go. I will truly miss this house and all the time we spent here as a family. I know in my heart that no matter what house we live in what makes a house a home is my husband and kids who i love so very much!!!

Happy Birthday Thomas & Katelyn

Baby Isabella

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting with my wonderful long time friend in California. She and her husband just had a new baby girl Isabella. She is so beautiful and it was so nice being able to spend a couple days getting to know my new little niece. I already miss her so much. I will definitely be planning more visits to California with fewer time in between visits. I love this baby girl with all my heart. Will see you in less than 2 months Isabella....muah!

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad!

Ever since I could remember my daddy was my hero. I remember when I was just a little girl I would always tell him that when I grew up I wanted to marry him because to me my dad was my knight in shining armor. Another reason my dad was my hero was because of the important work he did. He was the captain of the fire department and I used think my dad was so brave for what he did for others. Growing up through the years my dad has always been my strength. I remember being a teenager as I am sure we all experience there are fun times, but there are also hard times. My dad would always remind me that I was important and that I mattered. He told me that I was loved and to always remember that. He told me to to keep my chin up and to be strong. I always felt so protected by my dad, he always told me that no matter what he would always be there for me. Now that I am a grown woman I love my relationship with my dad now just as much as I did when I was younger because now he is my friend. Even though we live on the opposite side of the United States we still talk on the phone quite a bit and I just love our phone conversations. I love that I can come to him and seek advice and he will always look out for my best interest. I just love knowing that no matter what he will always be there for me to lend support and love me just like he did when I was a little girl. Thank you so much Dad for loving me and making me feel special. I love you, Happy Fathers Day!

When I think about how much my dad loves me, I think how amazing and awesome it is that our Father in heaven loves us even more. God wants to be the one we run to. He wants to love us, protect us and be our strength. He wants us to be able to come to Him with all of our burdens and lay them down. Just like I remember times sitting on my dads lap feeling his arms around me protecting me, God wants that even more. He wants us to run in His arms, sit on His lap and call Him Father, Abba, Daddy. Thank You Father God for blessing me with a dad who is loving, protecting and strong. Thank You for giving me a glimpse of You!

Here are some great verses of our Fathers love for us..........

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

But you, O Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

This is how God showed His love for us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

"Thy Shield and Buckler"

The other day as I was organizing, I ran across a book, a special book that I haven't looked at in quite some time. The book is called "The Shadow of the Rock" it's a book full of Christian poems. This was given to a family member back in 1872. This book is special to me for a few reasons, one because I was born in 1972 exactly 100 years later from the time this book was first given as a Christmas gift to a family member and the other reason was my Grandmother gave this to my Dad and 8 years ago my Dad gave it to me right before he moved to the east coast.

My Grandmother (my Dads mom) was a very special women. She is the one person in my life that first introduced me to God and Jesus. I just remember being very young and every time my sister and I would spend the night at our grandparents house my Grandma would always tell us how much God loves us and that He is everywhere. I remember their place was in a beautiful city in Marin and they lived high up on a hill and at night she would pray for us and have us look out the window and see the beautiful view she would explain that everywhere we looked God was there, that He surrounds us. In the morning she would wake us up with such excitement and have us look out the same window with the beautiful view and she would tell us how thankful she was for the sun rising, the birds singing and the new day God has given us.

My Grandmother passed away when I was 13 and it was about 10 years after that that I accepted Christ into my life. Even though I didn't live my life for Christ in my teens and early twenties I always had a part of what my Grandma taught me in my heart and in my mind. I know in my heart that my Grandma is with the Lord and I am excited to be with her again one day.

When my Dad gave me this book of poems I noticed there was a pressed flower to hold a place in the book, I believe it was a favorite of my Grandmothers......................

"Thy Shield And Buckler"

As the weary years go by,

Will my love wax cold, and die?

If the pilgrimage be long,

Life be dark, and foes be strong,

Shall I not grow faint, and yield?

Shall I ever win the field?

How shall I endure and dare?

How the cross in patience bear?

How through tedious years sustain

Wavering conflict, oft in vain?

Nay but the Unchanging Friend

"Will confirm you to the end!"

"He Who hath the work begun

Ne'er will leave that work undone--"

While at God's right hand He lives,

Deathless is the life He gives,

Through all change, and woe, and strife,

"Springing up to endless life."

"Heaven and earth shall pass away,

Not My Words--" so Christ doth say.

In all years " His Truth shall be

Shield and buckler unto thee"

When I reach life's earthly bound,

And the shadows darken round,

All familiar things and dear

Fading fast from eye to ear,--

In that hour of mortal smart,

Trembling flesh and failing heart,

Shall I find my anchor vain,

Parting in that latest strain?

Hear the Shepherd's voice of old,

Looking on His helpless fold,

Looking far, with gaze Divine,

Down the ages' lengthening line:

"Every feeble sheep I know:

Life eternal I bestow:

None shall prick them from My hand."

Shall that word of promise stand?

Or, when countless foes affright,

closing round in latest flight,

In that deadly hour and dim,

Shall my soul be snatched from Him?

"Heaven and earth shall pass away,

NOT MY WORDS--" so Christ doth say:

In death's grasp " His Truth shall be

Shield and buckler unto thee."

H. A. B

"Your Life"

Now that we have just celebrated Christmas a few months ago and with Easter approaching us I thought this was appropriate to post for the time we are in. As you read this I hope that you think about what Jesus means to you and I pray that He reveals His love for you. He does love you, He died for you. He took all our sins upon himself so we can have life.

A few years ago I was inspired to write this poem about my Lord and Savior and what He means to me...............

Your Life as Lord
Began on Christmas Day
No where to be born
But in a manger far away

The time has come
To worship and sing
To you O Lord
My Saviour and King

Your life on earth was
to set the example for man
I want to be Christ like
With your help I know I can




You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and shape me
As I kneel and pray

Your life was full of
Persecution, pain and suffering
But through it all
New life this would bring

I love you Lord with all my heart
You are worthy of all my praise
Please light my path and Go before me
Now and always

Your life ended here on earth
So you could pay the price
On the cross you bore my sins
The ultimate sacrifice

As I walk through life
I stumble and fall upon my face
You pick me up and guide me
With gentleness and grace

Your Life on earth
Will never be in vain
Because of You I am set free
From all my guilt and pain

You are compassionate and faithful
With your never ending love
You will reign forever
In heaven up above

I have life now because of You, thank You Jesus!

Spring

My favorite season of the year is here..........Spring. The reason I love Spring is because it represents so many things to me. Growth, refreshment, beauty, warmth, life. I look around and Gods creation is all around me, I am in awe of His beauty. I believe that God wants that for us as well. Just as the flowers come each spring, they are not like they were the year before. There are more, they have multiplied, they have grown. God wants us to grow like the flowers and that our growth as Christians will multiply year after year. In order for us to grow we need to come to God so we can be refreshed by His Spirit. When we are refreshed and fillled we experience the beauty, warmth and life He has to give us. Another reason I love Spring is because just like my husband and I like to do our "Spring cleaning" in the house and out in the yard. For me especially I like to take the time to examine my walk with God and ask Him to do a "Spring cleaning" within me. Our back yard is always the worst, all the patio furniture is dusty & dirty from the fall & winter. We need to sweep and wipe everything down. I am just so thankful that God does that with me everyday......picking me up and dusting me off, picking me up and dusting me off...........thank You my Lord!!!

Luke 12:27
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin

Job 8:19
"Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow.

Psalm 92:12
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psalm 90:17
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

A Beautiful Song called: Jesus You're Beautiful

Jesus, bright as the morning star

Jesus, how can I tell you

How beautiful you are to me

Jesus, song that the angels sing

Jesus, dearer to my heart

Than anything Sweeter than springtime

Purer than sunshine

Ever my song will be

Jesus, You’re beautiful to me

Jesus, bright as the morning star

Jesus, how can I tell you

How beautiful you are to me

My Jesus, song that the angels sing

Jesus, dearer to my heart

Than anything

Sweeter than spring time

Purer than sunshine

Ever my song will be

Jesus, You’re beautiful to me

Oh, You are so beautiful

Oh Beautiful

So beautiful

So beautiful

Jesus, you’re beautiful to me

Beautiful

Beautiful

Beautiful, Jesus, You’re beautiful to me

Beautiful, wonderful, everything

Beautiful, Jesus, You’re beautiful to me

Wonderful, morning star, Lord you are, Beautiful

Jesus, You’re beautiful to me

Ohh, so beautiful

Sweeter than springtime

Purer than sunshine

Ever my song will be

Jesus, You’re beautiful to me