I love lovely days

It’s so beautiful out today! I love lovely days
Right now I’m sitting with my Gramma. We sat outside playing with the dogs for about an hour. She’s an amazing woman! Both my Gramma, and my Mom extra extraordinary. God has blessed me so much by giving me such wonderful Christian women role models to look up to.

Will's graduation party went well. I think that everyone had fun. Snosh counted and we had almost 45 people crammed into our tiny little kitchen when we ate. I think that we had around 50ish come and go. We were hoping and praying for lovely weather conditions... however it rained off and on all day. We set up a little tent thingy in the backyard which provided tolerable fortification from the exterior elements.

I leave for Liberia one week from today... and I'm not ready. But then again I'm never really ready for anything.
It’s been an exciting year so far. God has blessed me beyond all imagination and I'm so thankful to be right where I am at this moment in time and excited to see where HE leads me later on. So, for today I'm standing on the promises of Christ my Savior.
Colossians 3:14&15
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Good gravy!!!

Good gravy!!! Graduation/Liberia… can I say stressful!?! I’m super excited about both, but I’m a tad bit overwhelmed. Anyway, today Joshua took William to register for… COLLEGE!!! I’m so proud of him and looking forward to this next year. Anyway, I’m off to get a few supplies for Liberia, and I’m still thinking about what to get for Sunday:/



When I wipe away my tears I still know that you are here.
I see the works of your hands all around me.
I will lie down and sleep in peace tonight and in the morning when I awake you’ll still be with me.
I will praise you in the storm, and give thanks even with this broken heart.
I will lie down and sleep in peace because I know you’re always with me.

Captivating Splendor

Captivating splendor is something I rarely see or rather rarely acknowledge. As I grow older and the years pass I find myself ignoring God’s amazing art work more often than I care to admit. When I do happen to open my eyes I feel guilty for ignoring and not giving due credit to my wonderful Creator.
As I was driving home the other day I was self absorbed in worries and rather distressed. And as I drove down a little road filled with trees I turned a corner and the sight before me took my breath away and if I hadn't felt like crying before, I did at that moment. You see it wasn't just the serene scene that made my heart skip; it was the overwhelming feeling of love and grace. For if my God can paint the hills and sky to form in such a gentle way and cares for the sparrow and lily... how dare I ever feel so miserable? Life can feel so cruel and almost too difficult to deal with at times, but as I learn and grow I know that even if it is unfair and brutal God is always just and loving! I see the blessings and gifts all around and when my heart is breaking I know that my God cares. He has given me so much to be thankful for and when the unfathomable slaps us in the face I know that my God is there, and though I may not be able to see him face to face just yet, I see His hand in everything around me. So, today look out side, take a walk and absorb your creators art gallery!
Isaiah 40:28&29

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus 1:
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…


Verse 3:
Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
...They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...

Chorus 3:
Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

What a fun weekend! I made my first wedding cake.... it was a ton of fun, it didn't turn out as nice as I would have liked... but, I think the lovely, cute as a button couple liked it. Plus I got Noah and Isaiah for a night and got Nehmiah for a few hours.
And I got to spend today with Mom, Dad and Levi. Dad "worked" on my breaks that didn't need fixing. Rather irritating almost being bluffed into paying some guy to fix them. Thank goodness for wonderful Dads:)

Writing with Will reading over my shoulder...

(K)"So, William... what would you like the world to know?"
(W) "I don't know"
(K) "Well, why are you reading over my shoulder?"
(W)"Because I'm nosy!"
(K) "Do you mind?..."
(W) "NO! Hahaha"

I really don’t have much to write about. But, I noticed a lot of "traffic" on here and decided I might as well write something. Let me see.... I made fried chicken for the first time tonight. Will and Joshua were being big babies and talked me into making fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn. Now my house reeks of fried chicken. But it was pretty good if I do say so myself. I'm pretty sure I've created two spoiled big brats (i.e. William and Joshua). After dinner and cleaning up Joshua and Will both said "Thanks it is was great" and I jokingly responded, "My life would be nothing if I couldn't cook for you two", and the crazy part is... that has become a big part of my life lol. But it's a part I LOVE. I really do enjoy cooking for the boys. I love cooking for anyone who dares to eat my concoctions :) And now I have another specialty to add to my list thanks to the boy’s insistence on fried chicken for dinner lol.
(W) Thanks for giving Kristi your recipe Aunt MaryLou

The end of our long journey is nearing...

The end of our long journey is nearing. Where did the time go? The last few years have been somewhat unexpected. I’m sure all of you know what I am talking about. As I sit here in my living room and scan my surroundings. I’m struck with joy, apprehension, contentment, lament, wonder and hope. The end of our journey is near, the last 3 years are coming to a close and our little William is grown up!
I’ve struggled with letting go my whole life. I thought that this would be easy. I was going to be ready to let him fly the coop. I am so ready in so many ways. Yet I am petrified. This probably sounds like a lot of gibberish… but, it’s something I am struggling with and not sure how to fell or what to do. Not that he is moving out or going away… but, it’s going to be different. He’s an adult and making his own decisions and I think that that is what scares me the most. Anyway, Life is always changing and always a journey. So as we close one chapter we open another in this crazy mixed up beautiful mess we call life.

Psalm 143:10
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

Psalm 46 (New International Version)

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.