10 Blessed Years!

"I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go."

Song of Solomon 3:4

Ten years ago ... and, today!

I'm Thinking ....

Fast from negativity.
Feast on worship.

This is my new motto. They are words from “A Holy Experience” … I consider Ann Voskamp a “mommy mentor” even though I’ve never met her. Yep, those words struck me. This is where joy lies. God’s perspective. God’s eyes. Satan’s defeat. JOY! Worship in all its forms … with my mind, with my heart, with my words, with my body, with my life, in singing, in quiet, with all that I am. I am calling out and speaking life and teaching our girls to do this, too. I am standing on God’s words, which are LIFE! Not falsely. Not fairytale. Not fake. God’s words which are truth. The resounding emotions are joy and peace because praising reminds me of WHO is in control and WHOSE I am and that ALL His plans are good.

And, then this from Pastor Robert a month ago …

Ask from God MORE than you can imagine.

I’m not talking about prosperity philosophy here. I don’t really understand that whole concept anyway. What I do get is that God intends for me to converse with Him about my needs knowing He will meet them and not to settle for less than His best. He knows what is best and He intends for me to walk in it, when I choose to receive His best. I know from experience that walking toward God’s best isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it involves having some yuck scraped off of me and dying to some more of myself to embrace what He has … but I’ll tell you what ... I am done with second best and just enough to get by. I am done with not asking Him for the moon because He tells me to do that. And, quite frankly, expecting Him to respond. Satan would have me think my issues are not important, that God is too busy to worry with my little thing or that He won’t answer in amazing ways that blow my mind. NOT TRUE! I am a daughter of the King and I am asking for MORE that I can imagine and I am planning on being specific and standing in faith for it and not giving up … because I know that God is faithful to answer!

“The great fault of the children of God is that they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything of God’s glory, they should pray until they get it.” George Mueller

Um, hum, I think God is inviting me to another level of trusting Him … and to not quit asking because miracles are still available for those who cling to them. I am no longer in Egypt … I am walking toward the promised land and receiving the promises in my heart until I have them in my life … and I believe that many of those promises are on this side of heaven.

So, I am fasting from negativity, feasting on praise, asking more than I can imagine, and praying until I receive more of God’s glory in whatever form He gives it to me. And, when I receive it, I am going to share it like crazy with others and prayerfully they, too, will see what a MIGHTY God we serve!

*Thanks "Room to Think" for helping me correct my typo at the top ... FAST negativity, FEAST on praise! :)

God is Creative!

Prayerfully, you won't convince me ever again to go to the zoo on Spring Break. While I can report the kids has a good time with each other ... the mommy's were dragging! It was unbelievably crowded. However, we enjoyed God's amazing creativity in the animals we saw ... and even in the people. The animals are cool and crazy and walk funny and sound funny and are so vastly different from each other ... wow! And, there was a crowded, hot, somewhat grumpy, large group of people walking around that place vying to see these amazing creatures. And, God was watching us all ... His amazing creation ... each of us different, wonderfully made and loved so much by Him that He sent His son to die for us that we might have eternal life. Praise God and may I look at others around me all the time and see them through His eyes!

The zoo gang!













Best of friends.

















































Stretch!

















I'm thinking this is what everyone at the zoo needed by around 1:00 ... a rest in the cool to calm grumpiness and refresh!

















Look closely ... the hippo is under the water.

JOY!

Baby girl loses her first top tooth!

A Slice of Inspiration ...

"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. "

George Mueller

Never Enough Gratitude for Gifts ...

526. “Guard turkey" who "attacked" as we were turning around in a drive-way. He pecked and pecked at the tires and we laughed and laughed.

527. Sling shots.

528. Sleeping babes.

529. Hand jive.

530. Card tricks.

531. Reading spots.

532. Winter flip-flops.

533. Hubby finally home after 18 days in the field.
534. Signs of spring.

535. Adventures with God that require absolute faith.
536. Women’s retreats.
537. How God awes me with His provision.
538. Inspiring books that we read in homeschool.
539. How much I learn from my children … humbling, awesome, amazing … WOW!
540. Mother mentors.

Love Notes and A Beautiful Song

Love notes from sweet baby girl ...

And, I have this tacked up on my bulletin board. It is a song oldest daughter wrote last summer. This song just lifted my spirit today. Thank you Lord for my sweet daughters and their precious gifts ... words, hugs, love, snuggles, prayers, support. We are blessed!