PPT — Father’s Day …..

We had a great Father’s Day.  Now, I may be very repetitive here…but I truly feel my husband is the Worlds’ Greatest Dad.

He loves and I mean really loves his children, his grands, they are all the same.  They are his focus for everything he does.  When asked what he wants to do for his birthday, or for Father’s Day, it is always the same..BBQ with the kids and watch them play in the yard.

Honestly, our yard was designed so that the kids could have most of the area to play.  He set up the hoop, has an area for bike’s and is now looking to get a Volleyball net.    Mike went on our kids field trips, and our grands.  He chaperoned 8th grade trips and coached sports teams.  He never missed a teacher conference.  I have never heard him complain about anything in regard to the kids.

I am always grateful for what the Lord has done for us in regard to Mike.  He is the best.  He is our gift.

So for Father’s Day this year, we BBQ’d, watched the kids play and now we leave for Tennessee to love on some more kids and grands and we cannot wait.  As with our Father, Mike’s love just keeps on going.  ….and I am grateful….

“And these are the words which I command you today shall be in your heart;  you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”  Deut. 6-6-9

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PPT — Addendum…FRED…

Today I met Fred.  He is sweet.  He was sitting in his wheelchair at his bedside with a lovely lady named Nancy reading the Bible to him.  He is probably 80, a recovering alcoholic, former chaplain to the jail here in town.  As Nancy is reading,  Fred has closed eyes, the nasal cannula giving him some oxygen and he is taking it all in, the oxygen and the Word.  We were quiet until Nancy finished reading the passage.  He was happy to see us, but very tired.  He likes to know what your name is and even has a book about names, so that he can look up what your name means and he remembers.  He is a child of God.  A precious, child, who has lived a full life and continues to love His Father.  What a privilege it is to meet him.  Bridget told him that her great niece, Hannah, prayed to ask Jesus into her heart day before  yesterday and how he rejoiced.  I thought he was going to come up out of that chair.  Sometimes we grow complacent about things.  Not Fred.  Then as Nancy was getting ready to leave, something small happened that I will never forget…what a wonderful salutation….Nancy said, “Fred, Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, Fred replied, “Lean not on your own understanding”, Nancy, “In all your ways, acknowledge Him”, Fred, “and He will make your path straight…..”.  That is the most beautiful way to say “See ya later, Fred.” that I have ever heard…

PPT — Generations…

These pictures were taken at Philip’s Graduation party.  I love both of them, I really love the people in them. Seiji Sparling, is a delight.  He laughs and runs and loves on folks.  He had eaten chocolate covered everything and then needed to have a little “jawbreaker” topper.  We think that is funny because his father used to get Brody “quadruple shots of espresso” when he was in Junior high…Pay back is tough…He is a great kid, and Matt is a super father…

Rhoda, our precious, Rhoda…here she also was enjoying some chocolate covered strawberries.  I have blogged about her before.  She is head of the Sewer’s and Rippers, the Prayers chain, Greets for me and I have learned so much of the Christian walk from her.  I love her dearly.  We had the most fun seeing who could drip the most on ourselves.  The joys of a “chocolate fountain”  break all age barriers.  What a simple thing to bring  joy.

Phil’s sermon this week was on “Summer Fruits”, the first being “Charity”.  Basically, loving, expecting nothing in return.  Giving to someone, who cannot give back.  I love that idea.  That really has nothing to do with these specific pictures,  except that we can love all  generations, all walks of life.  For someone who “adores” people, it is a freedom I truly enjoy.

I, also, love doing things with my BFF, Bridget..so today, we have some elderly saints in our church who are in little care home.  This is where Bridget’s mom, Rose stayed while Bridge was in Kenya.  I visited her and we both met some sweet  folks there.  We are going to go  visit those older saints, love on them and then go have lunch.  I am excited.  I may even post about that later.

I guess, what I want to say here, is…Loving people is such a priviledge..knowing people from different age groups is a blessing.  What a great gift from the Lord to us…to learn about each other,  to accept one another.  Thank you so much, Phil for the encouragement.  Thank You, Father for Your Word.  Thank for our precious saints.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love  has been perfected in us.”  1John 4:11-12  and again, I am grateful…  ++++

Happy, happy Birthday, our Noah !!!!

Our eldest, oldest, (what ever is right) grandson turned 11 today..  How on earth does this happen.

Noah John is beautiful, inside and out.  He is “crazy” smart and real.  I have certainly written this before.  When he was born, being our first, I could not even breath until Erin brought him over…everyday.  He brought a new dimension to our lives, of course.  As he has grown and matured, he continues to do that.  Honestly, he is very much like his uncle in that he loves quiet.   He loves to read.  Dislikes being around loud noises and needs alone time.

Some of my favorite times is when he comes over and says,  “Mammo, could we just read together, in the quiet, or sit outside and talk?”  I love that.

My prayer for Noah has been since the day he was born, “Father, make him a man after Your own heart.  Grow him up to be true to his “namesakes”.  A strong, man of God, who loves like You, is peaceful and kind to others.  As he starts Junior High this year, my prayer is even more so.  And ya’ know?  So far so good.  Thank you, again Lord.

Take a Walk With Me…….

Wow, it has been a very busy Spring.  We have had 3 birthdays, 1 college graduation, 2 High School graduations, traveling to Tahoe, Home Shows, and general family stuff.  Time gets by and I really miss connecting with my “blog Family”.  I miss you, Melody.  I miss you too, Scottie and all the other sweet people I have met here.  I am not far away.  You are always in my mind.  I miss communicating with my fam through pictures and words.

With the summer upon us, I am truly hoping for more time, to write and reflect on things.  Sometimes, I feel I was meant for a different time, a slower paced, quiet life.  Then again, I would not want to miss all the things that go on in the “right now”.  Guess, I’ll just trust the Lord that He knows best,  and go for it.

Noah, Trinity and Blue all did very well in school this year.  I am always and proud “Mammo”, so that just adds to it, since I was a very lower average student.  I cared more for “social” activity than academics.  I am still that way.   I truly want the kids to all do well though and be whatever the Lord has designed for them.   Zion will begin Kindergarten this year, he is quite ready and excited for that.

These gorgeous things are blooming again in the back yard.  I try to take these pictures to send to our Kristin, I know she loves flowers as much as I do and will appreciate them like I do.  It always amazes me that God takes care of these things.  They come from sticks and climb and I do not have a green thumb at all, and yet “our Father takes care of these things”…like the lilies of the field,  I am so grateful.  How generous of Him to allow these for our pleasure.

Honestly, I never see this lavender, and we have about a dozen of these in our yard without thinking of Kristin.  She loves the smell of lavender.  And we love her.  Zion actually took this picture for his Auntie.  He is a pretty good photographer for 5.  Quite the eye.  He gets it naturally.  Erin is a wonderful photographer and we all know Brody is.

When the Spring happens and the yard is in bloom, I really take some refuge there.  I can sit on the swing, water or just stand and look, the Lord is there.  We talk and usually there is a noise to distract me, but I do steal some time alone with Him here.  I am so grateful for this place He has provided for us.

This is absolutely, the only thing that I can grow inside the house.  I put them in my kitchen window and enjoy them year round, every day.  As I look at these pictures, I realize I love purple flowers.  I love the look, the smell and the peace they give.

Thank you so much for allowing me this indulgence and taking this walk with me through what brings me peace in my busy world.  Thank you, Father for the creation of beauty in your world and allowing us to live here.

Life With ZeeB…

So, at lunch today, Zion wanted Erin and I to play a game of cards with him.  I thought that would be fun, so he dealt out the cards to play…GoLD Fish !!!

This was my hand.  I looked at my hand, not quite sure how to play the game this way…Zion said, “Mammo, do you have any baseball players?”  I think, I was silent for a minute and burst out laughing.  He was very serious……

Blessed Be The Tie That Binds..Open House

It had been a couple of years since I had been to an Open House at the kids school.  I really did not expect it to be a really big deal.  The longer I was there, the more my mind (and emotions) collected stuff.

It was fun to see the kids classrooms and teachers, their desks and all the things they made.  They are talented and smart little buggers and I could not be prouder of them.

We went in to see Zion’s class room for next year.  He begins Kindergarten and will have the same teacher and classroom as Noah and Trinity had.  This was by Erin’s design and I think it’s great.  It was just when I walked in, my thoughts immediately went to ” wasn’t I just here for Noah?” and “this is where Trinity did her first play?” How can it be?  I felt older and of course a little sad..I want them to be smart and grow and be independant, but sooo fast???

Noah’s class was quiet, I felt that was approriate.  He works better in the quiet and organized atomsphere.  His teacher seems that way..  His state report was on Tennessee ( seems right to me).

Oops, may have made that too big…I don’t know how to change that.  Noah seemed comfortable in his class and proud of what he had completed.

This one was a little harder for me.  That is my Mom.  The grands call her “Mammo Mammo”, because she was Mammo to their Mom and Dad I’m Mammo to them,  it just distinguishes us.  Trinity had to make a report on a family member, she choose Mom.  I was proud of her.  Sad though, only because I was wishing so much she had been able to see Erin and Brody’s children.  I can see her laughing with them and at them.  Hugging and loving them the way she did with her grands.

The pillow top behind her picture there was lovingly made by Rhoda at church.  I have written about her before.  *(little story to follow)  Erin had placed a pair of her glasses, her Memorial Service bulletin, Trinity had interviewed my a couple of times, so her report was there, a blouse she had made for me that Erin now wears and a basket of one of her favorite candies (orange slices).  I looked at that for a while and the same thought arose.  “Mom, “how I wish you could see how your great granddaughter has honored you.”  So I asked the Lord to tell her.  We sampled other food from other relatives.  It was a very enjoyable, thought provoking time.

I love living here, in a small place.  I was able to run into friends, other parents I have met through Little League, Pageants, church, Bible Studies, etc.  I loved it and I am very grateful for the kids inviting me to go along.

All of this to say, Lord, you are  the controller of all.  You give and You take away,  Blessed be the Lord.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of all the kids lives, that we can openly speak of You and Your ways, and thank You so much for the blessings we each receive from Your hand.

Just Some Thoughts…

It seems as though time just gets away from me somedays, and then I have been a little “reflective” lately..So many things have happened and not happened and that makes me just little “mixed up”.

So, this is one of my favorite trees, right outside our front door.  I love the green and that it changes color first in the fall.  Another expression of the Lord’s care for each of us.

Also, I have a nephew, haven’t seen him in about 22 years.  He is married to a sweet little thing from Bangladesh.  She called about 2 weeks ago, seems he took everything they had and left.  This boy claimed to be a Christian, and I talked with him about once a month.  This makes me sad.  My niece suffered greatly by his behavior.  I found a shelter for her in LA, she moved there until her sister could come and help her.   I have fallen in love with her.  There is just something so sweet about her voice…”Auntie, you come get me, I cooook and I cleeen for you. “  Now that’s not going to happen, but I really love her and chech up on her twice a week.  Pleae pray for her..

This little rose bud reminds me, that last week, unexpectantly one of my dear friends daughters died.  She went to school with Kristin.  My heart broke for my friend.  This is the second daughter she has lost.  The memorial service was incredible.  Her parent love the Lord so much.  Their faith and trust is completely in Him.  They chose everything, the music, the flowers and all the food, prepared it and brought it.  This was the last party she would give for her daughter.  They are an example of how the Lord gives strength when there is none.  He is mighty….

Erin and I attended our church’s Annual Ladies Tea on Saturday.  It was beautiful.  The music was very nice, the speaker was talking on Incredible Joy, something we all want.  It only comes from the Lord.  Love hearing those words.

This stuff was very fancy for Erin and I, we never do “fancy”, girly, but never “fancy”.  I just love being with my friends, and my daughter.

There are still alot of things I have on my mind.  It feels good right now to have just emptied that much.  More later…Right now I am so grateful for God making artichokes.  I think I may have one.  Mike always questions with I make them..”who thought about this..to peel back a leaf, scrap the stuff off with your teeth, scoop out the junk and eat the bottom”…who thinks of that stuff????  I don’t care..I love them…

As Requested…..my precious friends….

I know this is grainy, but it was taken from a photo I have on the wall.  Brody and Erin were downtown Auburn on Christmas Eve, had this picture taken, and then immediately went back to Erin’s and shaved his head.  They also wrapped these dreads up in a box, wrapped it and gave them to me for Christmas…that’s our kids…. (and, yes, I do still have them..I also have all their baby teeth)

I’ve Been Tagged…

My precious daughter-in-love tagged me last week with this.  She did a great job of her letter “A” of her favorite things..She knew my absolutely favorite thing in the world began with F.

1.  Father (as in God).

2. Family

3. Forest

4. Frost

5. Fried chicken

6. Friends (ok, should have been #3)

7. Fish with lemon

6. Fotos (I know thats a cheat, but “F” is hard for me !

7. Fabulous Bible Studies.

8. Flowers

9. Fajitas

10. Fairs

I tag …….

baylormum…”M”

Connie … “D”

Bridget… “B”

Pokinatcha…”H”

Pam…”K”