"Majestic Oaks"

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places ..." Psalm 16:6

This verse characterizes exactly where the Lord placed us in our season in Biloxi. Our home there was Majestic Oaks RV Resort and God filled our lives with great friends and many opportunities to share His gifts while we were there. Some of our best memories include every Saturday afternoon lunch provided by Sammy (who is the amazing owner of this park ... missing that Saturday fellowship), lots of free-for-kids ice cream, lots of time spent hanging out with Sherry and Rachelle and our snowbird friends, pumpkins, swimming, games, puzzles, learning to knit, walking dogs, arts-and-crafts at the front office, cook-outs, and meeting people from all over the United States and a few from Canada. Crazy amazing! 



The big girls and Mr. Sammy, who is the owner of the park and totally sweet on "spoiling" kids. Not to mention just a really incredible fellow.



Ms. Sherry ... can't say enough awesome about her! She essentially became another "aunt" to our girls and a friend to us. What a blessing! We really miss her.

Rachelle, as sweet as her smile! Always ready to do or share something fun!

Beto, one of Brianne's particular faves, and ours. He and Fabio (who I couldn't get pinned for a photo) kept the park looking awesome and were always ready to lend me a hand and to flash a smile and a wave.

"Grandpa Bud." 'Nuff said! :)



Lainey and Bill. Lainey is a master knitter and did her best to teach us. Doesn't she have a great smile! Always there for a hug and conversation. They wintered the longest so we enjoyed them the longest!



Brian and James.

Big girls and Miss Cindy.

Rich and Kathy, who it turns out share an anniversary with Brian and I.

Mike and Emsoon, our amazing next-door neighbors for two winter seasons. They loved on the girls like their own granddaughters and Mike and Brian golfed together.

Marion and Bill. More of our faves. The girls walked their dog, Beau, and they cheered them on at their Upwards basketball game. One of my favorite things about Saturday lunch was talking with Marion.
Love them!



Hands down, we loved Mr. Jim and Ms. Blanche. The wee one especially, who was always looking for "My Jim." They were pretty sweet on each other. I don't think I ever saw or spoke with Jim that he wasn't smiling and always with a great word of encouragement and a laugh.



Bob and Linda from Canada. They were at the park our first winter. They loved on us and the girls like their own and we just enjoyed them so much. The girls would go with them to run their dog, Taz, on the beach. They loved the Lord and we shared that with them. What a gift they were!

 

Our Sean, who went to church with us on occasion. Always smiling and always encouraging.



So many more friends I could mention (Stephanie, Victor and Marian, Wayne, Beth and Randy, Donna and Paul, Harry and Marlene, Amy and Abel, Ted and Kathy, Mark and Phoebe, The Smith Family and many whose names escape me right now) ...  just typing this blogpost I am again reminded of the graciousness God showed us in this season. How He took care of us and made sure we were loved on and had folks to love on. God is faithful and we will treasure our time in Biloxi with these folks forever!

Pumpkins and A Party

Yes, I know it is way past October, however, this was such a great "Pumpkin Carving Farewell Gathering" for us with our Majestic Oaks peeps that it was worth recording! The front office staff really became family to us for the almost two years we were at Majestic Oaks. Last year and this year, we got together on an October  evening to carve pumpkins and eat some yummy home-cooked food (a fab Phillipino dish by Sherry and ridiculously delish chicken by Stephanie's hubby). Sweet Sherry blessed the girls and I with going away gifts and we all enjoyed each others company, took a load of pictures, laughed alot and demonstrated some rocking creativity. Here are a few of the highlights ...

Big girls and Miss Sherry sporting some awesome headbands, just one of the goodies in the bags she blessed them with.

Big hugs from the wee one who was (and continues to be) completely delighted with her two new princess skirts! Yay!

Stephanie and Rachelle!

Grody gut cleaning.

What a smile!

Ah yes, never to young to decorate a pumpkin.

Beto and his enormous pumpkin.

Starting to carve.

Very focused.

Helping Beto add his design! He was so precious and patient with her and let her color all over his pumpkin. So sweet!

Giving Rachelle directions.

The finished product ... meow!

Beautiful!

Bible in 90 Days: The Holy Spirit and Love

We have been in Acts and Romans the last several days and oh.my.gracious! I would like to share that if you don't have a clear picture of the power, promise and every minute presence, direction and work of the HOLY SPIRIT, then Acts is the book to read. I was completely blown away ... again ... at the amazingness of the gift of the Holy Spirit while reading Acts. Over and over again, His presence, power and speaking and moving are recorded. Here are only a few examples:

• Acts 2:1-4 records the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples at Pentecost.
• "but they could not stand up against his (Stephen's) wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke." Acts 6:10
• "When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit" Acts9:15
• "... and encouraged by the Holy Spirit ... " Acts 9:31
• "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." Acts10: 45 ... To which I would like to say, as a Gentile, an adopted Daughter of the King, praise the Lord!
• "... full of the Holy Spirit ..." Acts11:24
• "... the Holy Spirit said ... " Acts 13:2
• "... sent on their way by the Holy Spirit ..." Acts 13:4
• "... filled with the Holy Spirit ..." Acts 13:9
• "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts. 13:52
• "... having been kept by the Holy Spirit ..." Acts16:6
• "... but the Spirt of Jesus would not allow them to do so." Acts 16:7
• "... the Holy Spirit came upon them ..." Acts 19:6

And, I could go on, but I won't. Dive in yourself and get fired up. I know I am.

Then, we started into Romans and, reading Romans in a large chunk, it so beautifully describes grace and faith and love. Especially, love. Why we love? Because God first loved us. Why are we who believe on Him called righteous? Because Jesus loved us and sacrificed Himself for us to atone our sin, which we could never do on our own. Why we must love one another and others? Because God commanded it and by His Spirit, He enables us to do so. And, what is more important than this, but to love?

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fullfilled the law .... whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Romans 13: 9,10

I've thought alot about this in the last several days. One of my dear friends is dying of stage 4 brain cancer. Her time on earth is limited yet Jesus' life shines so brightly in her. Another, one of my best friend's mother, died recently of pancreatic cancer. She is sitting with Jesus, having run an awesome race on this earth. And, now, my uncle has been given an earthly prognosis that is less than favorable with his stage 4 very rare form of cancer. And, I have been reminded and convicted so clearly of love. Sadly, I have many times chosen quarrels or to be right or to try to be in control or to blame or to judge at the expense of choosing love and forgiveness over issues that are meaningless in the face of God's love and grace and mercy and tenderness. I want to emulate that grace and mercy and tenderness. I want to choose love and humility, to be a servant, empowered every moment by the Holy Spirit. Humbled and grateful for God's kindness leading me to repentance (Romans 2:4). Thankful that by His grace tomorrow is a new day where His mercies are new (Lamentation 3:22-24), and where, because of His grace and forgiveness and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can choose the new and be done, again, with the old (2 Corinthians 5:17). People, God is good! And, there is no other like Him. Grateful.

A Little Friday Inspiration!

Last Day at the Beach

We took the opportunity to take photo's and hang out one more time on the Biloxi Beach before we moved on to our next season in Katy. I am always amazed at the vastness of God when looking at the ocean and the peace that comes from just being near the beach. It is an awesome thought that God knows the actual number of sand grains on the beach. He is so HUGE and so good! How can we ever forget it!

 

The big trunk next to Miss Madison is HUGE as you can see. It used to be way out in the ocean and I would wonder as we drove by what it was. Hurricane Isaac blew that big old beast up on the shore. Amazing!

Can't resist these three girls!

No words. :)

Baby feet following the Daddy. Just the way our Heavenly Father would have it. Him walking and us following in His footsteps.

Artists!



Very busy and quite adorable.



The mister and I ... love that man to the moon and back and back infinity!



So long Biloxi! It has been a great season with you! :)

Bible in 90 Days: No Longer Orphans!

We were in John a couple days ago and these words just blew me away ...

12. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - 13. children born not of natural descent, nor human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.  John 1:13-14

We are not orphan's. Nope. Not when we choose Christ. We become children of God, children of the King, Sons and Daughters! Absolutely. And, what an amazing breath of fresh air. God is our Father and He is perfect and He loves us perfect and He ONLY does what is good on our behalf and He delights in His children's success. He can not be compared with any earthly Fathers, those who are less than great and those who are, by earthly measure, awesome Dads. Why? We all fall short, but NOT God. Never God.

I am not an orphan, I am a Daughter of the King! Selah!

* And, in case you are looking to read up some more on this amazing truth, I would recommend "Sons and Daughters" by Brady Boyd.

Just A Swingin'

I'm thinking there is not much better than a swing. Swinging makes people calm, makes people smile, there's always a breeze coming your way, gives you a moment to rest and reflect or visit with some sweet someone (if it's a porch swing) or just smell the coffee. Swinging brings joy and laughter. I'm in! Our swinging beauties ...