"Miracle Number 3!"

Three significant miracles have taken place, in our family, over the last 2 weeks. . . and yesterday was one of them! All three of our children not only came to church with us, but they even rode with us in the same car. . .my little Dodge Neon no less! I wish someone could have taken a picture of us all packed in the "little yellow car that could".

Going as a family to church may sound trivial and something to be taken for granted, but NOT in this family. It rather is, as stated, something no less than a miracle!! I know that God needs absolutely NO help from me, but this Mom stuck to her guns and didn't back down when setbacks that tried to step in. There was no setbacks going to happen - - we were going to church together. . . period.

I was so thankful that I even documented the miracle with picture taking too!





I pray daily for these three gifts in my life. They have each been raised in a solid christian atmosphere where God was/is leader of our home. They have attended church during their growing years, but somewhere at some point got mixed up. Moreso my girls. Now church is a place where people judge you, people are hypocrits, people don't accept you as you are, people are unfriendly, and people are boring. I know very well that God can remove this thinking and open their blinded eyes and softened their hardened hearts. I truly believe....no question about it. And in His timing - - He will. 

I say those very personal thoughts to share with you an incident that occurred during our Sunday morning miracle.

I share this incident with limitations, for I do not wish to show anger or rudeness. . . because it could turn that way. Rather I give an account of something we all need to be aware of and careful with. While the service progressed, Savannah had a slight cough. As she coughed, I began noticing a lady seated in front of her. The lady was beginnng to seem agitated. Let me say here that Savannah's cough was in no way loud, she wasn't leaning forward when she coughed, nor was it constant. She would cough just every now and then. At one point, the lady in front of her turns herself completely around, sitting on the edge of her chair, gives a look that said "Did your really just cough?!?!?" and turns herself around. My daughters found it amusing and rude. As time went on, I saw the lady close her Bible with a little added force, grab her coat and her purse. . . and continue to sit there. I knew she was on the verge of leaving by now....rather obvious. Well, as you guessed it.....Savannah coughed once more as time passed by. Lady jumps up, sitting on the 3rd row from the front of church, says to her friends with a look of disdain "I can't take the coughing anymore."...... and leaves.

As a protecting mother, I was mad << best word to use. But as a positive mother, I chose to tell my kids that this lady was looking for a way out beforehand and she found one. She must have felt uncomfortable, out of place and needed an escape plan.....Savannah became her ticket out. My kids, of course, didn't see it that way. As I related the incident to my Mom later, she said something about praying for the lady and going on. I told her right away "I didn't pray for her!" This was an example of someone living out in the flesh exactly what I had been trying to guard my kids from seeing.....making what they think of christians today and churches all around.....the truth!! How could she?! But as time passed and I thought about what my all so wise Mother told me, I decided I WOULD pray for this lady.....for only God knew of any pain she may have been feeling, what fears she may have been experiencing, what problems she may have been facing.

As I did pray, my thoughts changed to a more positive thinking. I know because of this incident my kids are not damaged and in time will return to church again. I also know that I canNOT nor have I ever been able to guard them from really anything in this world. What I can do is to keep praying for each of them to have their eyes opened, their ears opened, their desires to be God's, and their fellowship- with a God that loves them more than I do- to be R E A L.

So please the next time you may feel the need to be annoyed by something, don't like the way someone is dressed, tempted to say an unkind word, don't approve because they aren't like YOU.....take a moment and realize that this someone may be needing God and a closer walk with Him and your disapproving may be the thing that steps in and hinders that from happening.

In the front of my Bible I have written these very true words: God is infinitely more concerned over my children than I ever could be. He IS abundantly able to care for them in any and every situation.  The same applies for your children {no matter the age} as well, my friend! :)

As always.....thanks for letting me share!

"My Gift to Me and How We Met!"

As the Christmas season is in full swing, we eagerly await the big day when we can share our love through gifts with those we cherish. If your family is like my family EVERYONE but the baby is the hardest to buy for! Nonetheless....we attempt to please and hope that it will be the thought, love and time put into our endeavor that wins them over. :)

I want to share with you what my biggest and BEST gift is this year and every year. . . simply put. . . .my David. For all of you who may want to say "Not another my David bragging story!" go right ahead. I don't mind in the least. You see my David is everything to me apart from God Himself! In fact, if truth be told, David is the highest example of God to me in my life. Don't get confused....I'm not calling David - God! What I am saying is that David is love to me, forgives me, forgets my wrongs, believes the best in me, encourages me, strengthens me, gives hope to me, accepts me as I am, and is solid FAITH to me. I pray with all my heart that someday God WILL bring a man such as David into my daughter's lives!! I will smile with the biggest SMILE and thank Him always when He does! :)

I always LOVE to hear how couples met! So maybe you would like as well for me to share how my David and I came to be. . .

Hope I remember the details right!
Way back in March of '85, I was invited to go and watch a co-ed church softball game by my then boyfriend , Jim Allred. It was then that I was introduced to David Moore. David Moore - the guy you would've never guessed today was the HYPER guy who never sat down, never even stood still at a game. He was either swinging his arms wildly coaxing the players around the bases or jumping up and down in one spot because he had so much ENERGY! He ran so FAST that no one wanted to be batting in front of him. He was lightning fast as I called it! Watching him run was so graceful and exciting!! haha!

Jim and David were good friends. . . David once said "If I had a friend at that time, I guess I would call him Jim." {That's a compliment, Jim, if you're reading this!} He never was much on having a so-called main friend in his life. Mike Webster and Jim are about the only 2 ever mentioned in fact. In time, David took a liking to MY friend, Tammy Sparks Glover. And thus began the 4sum dating....Jim and Debby, David and Tammy. We had some really great times together!

Jim was a absolute wonderful first real boyfriend. I believe I loved him with a sincere different kind of love apart from the "I want to be with you forever" love. He was kind, gentle, loving, caring and he would be probably the first to notice that someone was beginning to come into a clearer picture in my mind. I will forever and always hold a special and dear place in my heart for this boy who as he says "set me free to see if I would come back and when I didn't ..... knew that I was not his to have." He would even be the one to encourage David to ask me out for he knew what his heart probably didn't want to tell him.

Tammy was the fun loving friend that we knew and loved too. She would go away to college that Fall. She would soon meet her future husband there as well. As Tammy was in college, time was moving on, and things between Jim and I were thinning out. I think it was on Labor Day that the official end to our realtionship between Jim and I would end. And as you can guess, David and Debby would come to be as well as Ron and Tammy too. November 23, 1985 I drove my car down David's street. I had my brother, who is 7 years younger, with me. When I saw David I told Dan to duck down....I tried ducking too! LOL! It was a small neighborhood street and I felt very noticable! I took Dan home and told my Mom "David is outside...he's outside!!" She said "Well, go see him!" So I drove my car right back to his street and parked myself right in front of his house! He was out still (thankfully). He came over seemingly happy to see me, we talked for awhile, he invited me inside his house. Continued talking. . . . His mom later cooked tacos for us and afterwards we would go out on our first official date that has not stopped 26 years later!

Sidenote: After my Mom told me to go see David that day, she would not see me return until after 2am that following morning after my Dad was sent to retrieve me. Haha! Hey she just told me to go see him....she didn't say when to return!! :)

It was a bit awkward at first being as though Jim and David attended the same church. Previously I would go with Jim to church as a couple....and now it would be David and I. The intial shock and reality of it set in for Jim one Sunday when David had to come and say to him "Hey guess who I'm dating now?" I know it hurt. . . and I did not want to see him hurt. But in time, with this being God's plan, Jim would accept it being the sweet friend he was to us both. . . and I thank him for it. He remained our faithful friend throughout time as well Tammy did too....we are blessed with their friendship!

David and I were best friends from the start. The only time we were ever apart from that November day was he or I went on family vacations. We have never tired of spending each and every hour possible together. I would rather be with no one else on the face of this planet than my David. That is why I find it so weirdly ODD when couples speak of needing breaks, day offs , etc...from one another! With as much time as we already do spend together, I look forward with great anitcipation to the day when he retires and not even something called work will separate us!! :) We got engaged in February of '87. I remember this well. We had already talked about marrying, even went and picked out the rings together. So I knew it would happen soon....just wasn't sure when! One night he invited me to a very NICE restaurant ....it was fancy....SOMETHING was about to happen! :)) Years later we would go back and I would take a picture of the very seat (I guessed) we sat in as my sweet David proposed to me! After the proposal, my family and I were going on a skiing trip with our church. My Mom always said it was a bad idea from the start to take that girl away from the man who just proposed and gave her a ring! He was all I though about and when I was able to finally reach him on the resort's phone (no cells back in the dino days) it was pure heaven to me! As our bus returned back home, following the forever loooong week, he would be the first I would see waiting in the parking lot for me! I was overJOYED!

As we prepared for our wedding, I remember taking David WITH me and my Mom to pick the wedding dress. We chose a store, found the dress and I went to try it on. The saleslady found out that David was the fiancee and told us in no uncertain terms that he was not supposed to be there! I quickly handed the dress back to her and said "If you don't want him here you don't want me here! Goodbye!" She quickly changed her mind and stood back. WHO was this dress for afterall??? It wasn't for anyone in the world except my David...he should be the one to pick it out!! :)

The beautiful day arrived on August 15, 1987! We were the first family from my home church to be married in our new location and sanctuary! My favorite, very much loved pastor and friend, would marry us. Pastor Rodger Phillips and his beautiful wife, Martha will forever be remembered in the hearts of those who knew and loved them....which are many of my FB friends. There will never be another.
And remember that first boyfriend I told you about - Jim? He was right there in our wedding with us! :)

Fast forward to April 29, 1988 and that day would make the union of two people become that much more stronger and sweeter as we welcomed our first baby girl into our world and forever in our hearts! Heather Marie.

That is how God brought two people together and blossomed a lifetime of love . . . forever.

(This is an awesome video of describing what a wonderful GIFT my David is to me. Please watch it!!)

"And You Thought It Was Impossible!!"

My Blog is unbelievably short this time....short and to the point..... and it only has ONE point!!

1. Our God can conquer ANYTHING in YOU!!!!

Fear. Doubt. Worry. Anxiousness.

{and the list goes on. . .}

Is anything too hard for the very Creator of our lives and the world as we know it??

No - for He is Sovereign and He is God. "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27.

God and God alone has the power to do that which we cannot for ourselves! We are not consumed by these negative things for they hold no power over us. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23. When we fully understand that we are not alone in our desire to be healthy and strong, and that the Lord is our strength, we begin to trust in His faithfulness.

When we seek Him and swing wide the doors of our heart to Him - it is then that His life changing power enters in and does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you." Matthew 6:33. Then step by step, moment by moment He begins a good work in us. Things we do not need in our lives {fear, doubt, worry, anxiousness} are cut out. Discipline is applied where needed. Priorities are rearranged. In some areas He works quickly. In others, painfully slooooow. But His timing is PERFECT! "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3: 24-26.

So take heart, my friend, for there is HOPE! If you struggle with these area{s} then seek God and His power to remove them from your life. And remember. . .  in some areas He works quickly. . . and in other areas He works slooooow. Nevertheless trust Him and His perfect timing! "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped." Psalm 28:6-7. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27: 14.

"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jeremiah 33:6.

YOU are no challenge for almighty God!!