Kids...

I was once asked why do you have FOUR kids? My answer was pretty simple...because I didn't have six! I just loved kids...and four seemed to be a good number.

As a parent you have to love it or leave it.

If you don't love it, you wont be able to do it!

I love this poem and thought I would share it.

My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper. And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writing on. So, after wiping my hands on my apron, I read it, and this is what it said:

For mowing the grass, $5.
For making my own bed this week, $1.
For going to the store $.50.
For playing with baby brother while you went shopping, $.25.
For taking out the trash, $1.
For getting a good report card, $5.
And for raking the yard, $2.

Well, I looked at him standing there expectantly, and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So, I picked up the paper, and turning it over, this is what I wrote:

For the nine months I carried you, growing inside me, No Charge.
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, No charge.
For the time and the tears, and the cost through the years, No Charge.
For the nights filled with dread, and the worries ahead, No Charge.
For advice and the knowledge, and the cost of your college, No Charge.
For the toys, food and clothes, and for wiping your nose, No Charge.
Son, when you add it all up, the full cost of my love is No Charge.

Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. And he looked up at me and he said

"Mama, I sure do love you." Then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote, PAID IN FULL.

...Author Unknown

Thank you God for letting me have these FOUR children, I love them with all my heart!

Holidays!?

Holiday are a great reminders for us to celebrate. That special recognition that we show to a person or a event. For the most part we don't need reminders for the "secular holidays" most work places give you the day off! (well some places) As adults we should all remember the family celebrations, dad, mom, birthday, anniversaries, giving honor to them on their day.

Today is fathers day and as we remember our fathers, living or dead, we search for the right words to lift them up with great memories.

My dad died a few years ago and there are times I wish I could call and tell him I love him. Yeah, I did it while he was here but after they are gone there is an emptiness there. The need just doesn't seem to disappear.

Dad had taught all of us girls the basics of taking care of car troubles. He also showed us how to fix things in the house some things you could fix with duct tape (lol) and most things duct tape would do until you got the right thing. It seemed we always had a drawer in the kitchen that we named the "junk drawer". It was usually pretty full of odds and ends that someone had found but wasn't sure where it came from. That is where we started our search for the right part to fix whatever we were working on. So to this day I have a junk container, one in the house one in the shed. So dad I do remember you every time I go to that jar/container and find just the right thing to fix what I am working on.

The other day Bekah and I were in the process of mowing the flooded property with a friend "Joe". When she went to pick up the extra mower at his house, my mower had lost the wingnut that held the handle on. I quickly called and asked if Joe had such a thing as a junk drawer that might have a new wingnut for the mower. She said probably not, so I mentioned the duct tape and she said he was more likely to have that! And he did.....we mowed the rest of the yard with duct tape on the handle! It worked, when I got home I found a good replacement here at the house! Thanks Dad for all of the ideas.....with this I remember you each day.

But I really don't need a fixed day on the calendar to remember him, it is an everyday event, that also goes for any member of my family. I would hope that my everyday actions would show them that there is a lot of love and appreciation for them. I know some days are so filled that there couldn't possibly be any room for appreciating family and friends.

BUT...Remember this, I do appreciate everything my family and friends mean to me. As each day goes by I thank the Lord for you! Thank you for all the love and support you have given me through the years. I have some great memories that will last a lifetime.

But for those of you that need reminding "Happy Fathers Day"!

In his Steps......

I went to a women's conference a few weeks ago and "In his steps" was the theme. I was asked to give a short devotional on Friday morning. I have done this a few times over the last 25 or so years of being as a pastors wife. But I must say, I get nervous and probably talk a lot faster, so I usually never volunteer for these things.

Anyway, I prepared for probably about 2 weeks, working through what I would say, the scripture and what kind of visual I would use. (these always take up a little time and slow down my talking) I didn't want to duplicate anything that would have been said in the services before my part. Ed is always good about listening to me practice, an abbreviated version.

So I had an idea on what to talk about.......steps!! I looked up inspiring talks on walking in Gods footsteps. I learned quite a bit, it prepared me for the conference and really set my mind to walking within the footsteps of God.

But God was kind enough to lead me to find the perfect visuals, the kids shoes. The following is my printed copy of my devotional.

Learning to walk is not an easy thing. Parents will remember when their kids were little and were attempting to take those first steps. It was almost a chore for them, like their little feet were stuck to the floor. Slowly but surely they would get the hang of picking up one foot, balancing on the other one then placing it firmly down on the solid foundation, like it weighed a ton just to pick it up. Then starting the process all over again, hanging on tightly to something or someone to make sure they could stay in the upright position. As time went by they became more and more confident in their ability to take those steps. As the steps became easier to accomplish, the grip on people and furniture became less and less. You could see the look in their eyes that they were enjoying the new ability to move around and enjoy their new found freedom. Then the day came that they took off…………..Still a little wobbly…at times taking a few steps then stopping and catching their balance and starting again.

The Shoes:
Our daughter Bekah wore this little white one over 26 years ago.

She has learned to walk with the Lord in ways that I could not imagine me doing. Last year she did an 11 month/11 country mission trip, called the “World Race.“ This bigger shoe belongs to our baby! He wouldn’t like me to call him that, he also has taken steps that I could have could never have taken. He is in the US Army and served 15 months in Iraq, driving armored vehicles and protecting our country.

I am proud of the kids accomplishments, they all have achieved great things in their walk. It all started with those first steps, holding on for dear life, knowing God was there. God leads and directs each step that we take and has people come into our lives for HIS purpose. Throughout our lifetime God has guided our steps to bring us to this place for HIS purpose. We are not here by chance!!! God has called us here.






Philippians 3:14 says:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus


Let us continue to walk in his steps.

I appreciate the Lord so much.....he has reminded me of how we do walk in his steps. The speakers at the conference were fantastic and I would go again in a heartbeat. I learned (but always knew) that he is still leading guiding each step we have ever taken. Looking back I praise the Lord for providing for me and my needs.

Each of us are different and he has "ordered our steps" for such a time as this!