Changes

This seems to be a season of change. Even if the change is a time of moving forward and should be happy: there is a hint of bittersweet as well.

I have never done exceptionally well with change. As a child it usually brought a feeling of loneliness or a feeling of out of place. As a teenager, I dreaded it because it usually meant that my comfort zone would be invaded or perhaps all together destroyed. I never could quite trust that change would bring something better. All I knew was that it was different: sometimes it was different good and other times it proved to be what I dreaded.

Now as an adult, I do not fear change as much, simply because I am quite certain who holds my past, present and future. I am more than certain that no matter what comes, God will be there with me. As a child, He was with me in the loneliness and as a teenager, He was there in the awkwardness of me trying to fit in and finding my way in life.

Every feeling that I ever had and still have, God is there covering it with His wisdom and love.

Spring has Sprung!

What a blessing Spring is! I enjoy this area we live in so much. It is coming alive: what was once barren and dry is becoming green and filled with spots of color from the native wild flowers.

From time to time, we see young calves in the fields. They seem to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the care their mother's give to them

There has been several young yearling deer around, they are getting use to being on their own. Birds such as Sparrows building nest and even Quail coming up to the house for the seed and bread crumbs I throw out.

Mother Rabbits with their young leaving their warrens for the green grass and warm sunshine. Willie even saw a mother nursing her babies at the end of the day.

There seems to be a promise fulfilled and a renewing of life with this season. I rejoice with the Hope that was given to us all and the Renewed Life that is our gift from God.

Blessings

The year 2009 is already full of promise. God will be adding to our extended Tribe through a wonderful blessing of a new child due sometime this summer.

This child even before they are born already has the hearts of each of us, We rejoice with the expectant parents for the promise of new life and all that it holds not only for their lives; but for the promise it brings to all who have the blessing of knowing the family.

A child brings hope to everyone whether you are part of the immediate family or the extended family of aunts,uncles,cousins and those who God has brought through church life or friendships. There is just something about knowing that this little one will take their place in a long ancient chain that has been bound together through prayer,love and of course, genetics.


It is a comfort to see our children, nieces and nephews take their place as parents: watching them teach and direct their own little ones with great love and care. Whenever, I see them all together, I feel hopeful and certain that God's hand is at work I am thankful for everyone of them for God has given them each specific talents and gifts that totally unique to be used in their life's calling. Their parents are God's tools to mold and shape them into individuals and yet a part of a Tribe who needs each of them and would not be all that it should be without them.

I give thanks and praise to our Father,Who has given us such great treasures in those who are here and those who are yet to make their appearance. I am thankful that from the very beginning God knew them and embraced them as His own. I rejoice that He allows us the blessing of watching them grow!

Coming to the end of the year

Every year about this time, I get reflective. I think about what happened in the year: the usual why did it happen, how did it happen and what would I have done differently in the circumstance.

So much happened in this past year that I have had a lot to meditate on. The answer I come up with most is that I should have taken my situations to God faster instead of trying to take care of things on my own.

I must confess that this has been a year of more joyous things than sorrowful. This has been a year in which God has shown Himself greatly to our family on a whole. Sure the economy is not where anyone would want it to be world wide; but with God as the source of our life, we can find contentment in living with little as we have when there was much.

One thing I know for sure God is still God and He is unchanging. His love for His children does not go up and down like the stock market nor does He need a "bail out" to keep His Kingdom moving forward. All He needs is willing hearts, who realize that all things begin and end with Him. In the in between, we have great blessing of His presence.

I am hopeful and look forward to the coming year, not because of a new presidency or any promises made by man. I a hopeful because of Who God is and what His promises are toward His children. I pray that you all will find blessings in your life whether you have little or much.... Just remember , our God is the King of a great Kingdom and our blessings, true blessings come from His heart to us.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Christmas Joy

Tonight, we attended our town's Christmas Parade. It was a very special time for us as a family.

We are so blessed to live in a rural community where families come together and enjoy old fashion things like a town parade.

The main street was decorated in lights and lined with with smiling faces of neighbors that you see in the local supermarket or local cafe. People greeting each other warmly even if they do not know your name. Children laughing and running up and down the sidewalks.

The air was crisp and cool, filled with anticipation of the parade as the band began to approach. Then you hear some of the children yell and giggle: " Here it comes! Here comes the parade!"

Horse drawn carriages with bright Christmas lights pass. Children shouting with joy because the riders are tossing candy to them. The the floats from local businesses go pass and ooh's and aah's are heard from the crowd. Last but not least, is the ending float with Santa Claus! Every kid clapping their hands and pointing.

It was a good parade; but it was not there that I found my joy so much. It was in the visitors I had after the parade!

I was blessed to have most of my grandchildren come to my house after the parade. Here we had chili, hot chocolate and cookies. The children decorated my Christmas tree and it was so sweet to hear them working together and enjoying each others' company.

My heart delighted in their conversations with each other and the laughter that filled my house for those few hours. I truly understand why a merry heart is like medicine. The laughter of each of them made me think back to when our children (their parents) were young and how they would become excited about this Season.

I want to thank the parents for making the trip for the parade and to our home. They brought to me the first true gift of Christmas: the laughter and love of children! The laughter of the grandchildren was definitely God given medicine to my old bones.

I've Been Tagged!

I am going to tell you seven things about myself that are not known by everyone:

1. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 6 years old

2. I am the oldest of eight children: seven girls and one boy

3.. I was born in Waco but spent most of my childhood in Houston area until I was 15 and then returned to the Waco area.

4. I married when I was thirty five to my husband.

5. I had lived in Central America on the edge of the rainforest for three years. My house was a Polisteel tent on stilts. I washed my clothing on a rock in the San Jacinto River and bathed in the same river.

6. When in Belize, I ate Iguana and other local dishes as well as lots of beans and rice

7.. I have five beautiful intelligent children but have never been pregnant. Yet, I carried them in my heart for years as a promise from God.

I will have to think about who to tag next

expectations and disappointments

I have been married for almost nineteen years and have forgotten what it is like to put great expectations for my happiness upon my husband until a recent conversation with a much younger woman.

She had placed her hopes on her husband and a certain situation: needless to say, she found herself disappointed and hurt. It brought back to me a time of those same feelings in dealing with my relationship with my dear husband.

I could only share with her what I had learned: that being, I had placed a great burden upon my husband by making him responsible for my happiness. There is no way that my husband had the power not to disappoint me no matter how hard he tried or what good intensions he had.

You see God gave us men who like ourselves are flesh and blood. They are obviously likely to be given to errors as well as come up against somethings that are out of their control. I am not saying to just not expect anything from your husband. Every wife has the right to expect respect, faithfulness and love as does every husband.

What I am talking about is the happiness and contentment that comes from life and the joy of knowing that well placed expectations will be met. There is only One Who can handle that huge responsibility and that is Jesus alone.

I have learned that when I have placed my hopes for happiness in Christ, I am not disappointed. In Him, I have opportunities to grow and expand who I am. I began to see my husband as he was, not who I thought he should be or I wanted him to be.
By accepting him, I learned new things about him and why he felt about things the way he did. I also noticed, because I eased the burden of expectations I had for him, he began to do the same for me. We began to enjoy each others company and encourage each other in situations. It opened doors for communication and forgiveness

It also gave me the opportunity to be surprised by my husband's true kindness and affection. It gave me the freedom to show my true affection in my love language to him. We both have benefited from this revelation and as time goes by we love each other even more.

I remind myself with an old hymn,"My hopes are built on nothing less than Jesus....."