"Here It Is....The Day She Said YES!"

I would like to begin this Blog with how I PRAISE God in all the many wonderful ways he is working in each of our lives!! His mercy and grace are unfolding a step at a time and it is so much more than amazing to watch him work!! Friend, he has a timetable and a plan and knows how to fit all the many different pieces of life's puzzle together to make it into something BEAUTIFUL! As the song goes "I'm gonna take all the broken pieces and make something beautiful like only I could. So put it all in the hands of the Father - Give it up, give it all over to the One and only One who can turn it into something beautiful."
I truly believe he is doing exactly that....in his timing. Don't get discouraged when YOU can't see it happening. Most of the time we don't. God is just working a little longer behind the scenes to make it that much more beautiful. Trust HIM. There is hope.

And now....for the BIG day!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2013 would become a day to represent a very special time in the life of our daughter, Savannah. It would become the day she received Taylor Tibbitts proposal question with a .......YES! It was also a day that was shared by many including her parents. Something that this mother will cherish always. God is doing some really super amazing works in the life of our daughter and us....and I give God all the glory and thanks from a truly grateful mother's heart! Please, I ask that you keep us each one in your prayers as God is working out his will in our lives.

At 5:30pm, we met up with Taylor's family and their friends, inside a privately owned hangar. It was a little overwhelming to see all the many people there. We were told to wait inside the hangar. Once Taylor and Savannah arrived, then the doors would be shut concealing our presence. This was ALL a surprise to Savannah. Taylor had taken her to Oive Garden to eat. He had made up an excuse to have to go out to his work site, after their dinner, and do something he had forgotten. Once they had arrived, the doors were shut, and we all were making up our own stories of just what was going on beyond those doors. Taylor had a helicopter awaiting Savannah once they got there. They would then take off for a ride and finish it with a view of the field below that said "Will you" with a heart to land in below the words. Once she saw the words "Will you" he would then finish the rest of the sentence himself with the words "Marry me?" while holding the ring in his hand. :) Smooth huh!

 Heather and I knew that Savannah was nervous about flying in general. So, many of the stories circulating around were ones such as "The poor thing probably isn't wanting to get on the helicopter!" "She's probably standing there crying and Taylor's trying his best to talk her into it!" Many of us had our ears up to the hangar's door trying to catch anything we could possibly hear. I thought I heard her scream once and told Heather....that in turn started all the more stories circulating! Haha! We had Savannah a pitiful mess. BUT in reality, what did lay beyond those doors was the complete opposite. She was loving every moment of it and quite excitedly agreed to go for the ride!! :)

All the many people celebrating a special day with Taylor and Savannah!

Taylor's Mom taking an aerial picture of the proposal field.

Such a beautifully HAPPY girl she was!!!!

Savannh was SO excited!! She was sending Heather and I pictures while they were up in the helicopter! :)

We also got aerial views of the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship of Texas!

She was loving it!

Soon we excitedly spotted them coming in the horizon!!

It was SO exciting watching them come in!! :)

This Mom got a very HAPPY hug from her daughter - - a true blessing indeed!!

A toast to the newly engaged couple!

Our beautiful girls!!

Taking a picture with Taylor's brother. :)

Cody...always the character.

After all the excitement, we were invited over to Taylor's parent's house for fajitas.

It was a very wonderful night shared by two special people . . .

Thank you, God, for the growing blessings you are allowing us to see in our lives.....

And the BIG DAY is - - - - -

May 8, 2014!!!!!

"I Went to a Strongman Competition!!"

Yesterday, David and I had the opportunity to go and watch a "Strongman Competition". Our daughter, Savannah's, boyfriend was in it. It was quite interesting to watch. The human body can display such amazing strength in unbelievable ways! These men, young and old alike, were phenomenal! I do well to just carry a full load of laundry, in the basket, upstairs!!

There were different levels represented: Masters, Light Weight, Novice, Middle Weight, and Heavy Weight. And there was six events required to participate in: I'm not going to try to guess at the names of those. I'm sharing a picture of Savannah and Taylor and the 5 of the 6 events he paritcipated in.

A funny insert:: I had to tell my Mom, when she saw these pictures, that No Taylor did not tattoo his face. Haha! Rather he has a signature look at each competition and this helps him to stand out and be remembered.

Taylor did very well and placed 3rd in the Middle Weight division! YAY!

As I thought about sharing this Blog, I could see how this competition related to life itself in different ways.

1. All men were strong, but not all men had the same strength.

We all have strengths, but not all of us are strong in the same areas. Does that make one better than the other? No, not at all. 

2. It wasn't always about the strength that was required, but rather about the technique.

If the technique was wrong, often the strength didn't matter. Your approach/ways/technique to handling life matters more than how strong you may view yourself. One example:: How do you handle stress in your life? Is your first resort to handle it the best way you can yourself -OR- to seek God and his grace, his guidance, and his help to help you with it?

3. The men pushed themselves farther when given encouragement.

We all need encouragers in our life. Whether they be a spouse, a parent, a friend, a teacher, a grandparent....and the list goes on. God plants those people in your life to spur you on....to go farther....don't give up.....keep trying.....you ARE going to get there!! David and I recently had the opportunity to go on a beautiful trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. While there, we hiked to 3 different waterfalls. These hikes were NO easy walk in the park....in fact it was downright exhausting (but great excitement too!). On one such hike, we were on our way down the mountain and a man was hiking alone up the mountain. He was growing weary from the hike and wasn't so sure his efforts were even going to pay off. He questioned us as we were in passing saying "Is there really a waterfall ahead?? I keep going and can't find it!" We both assured him "Don't stop now, you're almost there! It's just a little farther ahead. Keep going." Later....as we had taken our time coming down off the mountain, we see this man once again. He was SO HAPPY! I asked him "Did you find it?" He excitedly replied "YES! and my friends are never gonna believe I did this! But I got proof....there was a girl there and she took a picture of me on my camera!!!" It was so awesome to be able to encourage this man to "Keep keepin on!" when he could have easily given up and not reaped his awesome reward! In much of life we can apply this mentality - - one step at a time. And in that one step at a time, you know what happens? You get closer and  closer to all that God has waiting for you ahead!! We know that our ultimate reward will be when we see Jesus' face and he wraps his arms us around us welcoming us home! But there are many "rewards" here on this earth as well. Keep keepin on, my friend. Don't stop....you're almost there!

As I shared earlier, we all have many strengths and all they all vary from one another. But just as we all have strengths, know that we all have weaknesses too. Never use your strength to look down on another brother or sister who may not share that strength. For you may be the very one God uses to encourage and lift them up to be all that they can be. And as we all know....the tables can turn and we too may find ourselves needing the strength of another to pull us up. For it is by God's grace that we are who we are, where we are, and all that we are.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped."

Psalm 28:7

Trust in the very One Who is your strength and shield.

"Those Darn Shower Hooks!!"

As I was thinking and praying and drawing a blank today on what to write....I decided it wasn't going anywhere. I called my Mom and she encouraged me that I just needed to wait. It's hard to wait at times, especially when I have the perfect opportunity to write, I have the desire to write, and I've asked God to help me to write. Sometimes it's just not the right moment and we haven't waited long enough.

Sooo....I waited......

Tonight, I decided I would change things up and clean a bathroom instead of my normal routine of Tuesday afternoons. I had the time, I was alone, and I wanted to hang a new shower liner for the bathtub - so why not. We recently had bought new shower hooks and David had hung the curtain himself. When I attempted to unhook these heavy metal rings only a few would cooperate and unhook for me. I kept trying though. I tried standing one angle, and then another, all the while balancing myself on the tub. I tried with all my might - they still wouldn't budge. I would take breaks and give it another try. I started praying telling God "God you know how to do this. Would you please help me?" The more I tried, the more determined I got. The more determined I got, the more I prayed. Still....I ended with the same result....only a very few hooks unhooked. I decided this just wasn't going to happen no matter how hard I tried. It was best, yet again, to just wait.

And soooo.....I waited.......

Later, my son came home, and I asked him to come and see if he could help me with something. I showed him the problem. He started to tug and pull at the hooks himself. They were definitely hard to come apart, but he did manage to unhook the rest once he figured out the pattern. Sidenote for Mom: She has NO upper body strength. :) After his task was complete, I was able to take old liner off and put new one on. All the while, being able this time to snap hooks shut. Re-hung curtain and liner and job was complete!!

As I thought back over the course of events for the evening, I began to realize a Blog was taking shape here! And that's always a good thing!! :)

You see I believe God was showing me something here in my frustration. There are times in our life that we may call upon God to help us with a certain situation or problem and maybe it seems that he isn't helping the way we thought he should be. Maybe just maybe it's because he asks us to wait on him first of all and secondly maybe he is sending that help/encouragement through another human being to lift us up and show us a better way. Don't get me wrong here - I fully believe without a doubt that God and God alone is able and is big enough to meet any of our needs. He alone rescues, He alone saves, He alone delivers, and He alone sustains. And I also know there are times in our life that we need encouragers to lift us up and tell us "You're gonna be ok." "God's got this." "You can trust him all the way, all the time." We need others to keep our focus on what is positive and what is true. When our thoughts get twisted and misguided, God can bring others to us to help straighten them out once again and see that there really is no reason for fear, doubt, or worry. I still believe that God can and will take care of all this alone in his timing and in his will....but maybe there is something beautiful and assuring when he allows others to help guide our life as well.

 

I know for a fact that God has truly blessed my life in immeasurable ways when he gave me my David. I praise God first and foremost - for he is worthy of ALL my praise for ALL that he is in my life. And I praise God in my David secondly - for I know it is God in him that exemplifies God's love, grace, mercy, compassion, faithfulness and patience to me. Through God - my David has helped me, led me, loved me just as I am, accepted me, and assured me....time and time again.

So friend....know that God is able to rescue, to heal, to deliver, to help in whatever your circumstance may be - and he ALONE can do it. But know to that there are times he may bring those along such as a friend, a spouse, a parent, a relative, or even a child to encourage us and graciously point us back to God himself - - for HE alone can save. See the beauty of God's blessing on your journey. And remember to thank God for those he has allowed to brighten and enhance your walk with a God who loves YOU just as you are!

"Peace, Peace, and More Peace!"

As I was asking God today what to share in the Blogs he gives me, I kept coming back to today's message in church. So in not going any other way but God's....I will once again share with you the points taken.

Have you ever stop and thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and what was asked of her at such an early age? With the angel, Gabriel, coming and delivering the news to her that she, a virgin, would become pregnant? But not just pregnant with a child . . . She would bare the living Son of God from her womb! Did all that she would face, not only in the coming days but in the years ahead, possibly run frantically through her mind? Ridicule, gossip, slander, disbelief, criticism from others even possibly from her own family? For Mary was brought up in a very conservative Jewish home and things such as this simply had never existed. Mary would face, most likely, all of these things and much more. . . years of hardships and trials. But Mary, in her heart, believed and trusted God for his provision and care. And in that absolute trust - God blessed her with peace. In Luke 1: 38 Mary responds with "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."

Mary had total trust in the utter reliability of God. She knew he alone would carry her through and be ALL that she needed. Even though Mary had such faith, she would still have to go through the storms of life. For God did not take her out of the storms, but rather was there with her through each and every moment providing what was needed......confirmation, comfort, blessing, guidance, a path, a plan, and provision.

Friend, do not get peace mixed up with what we conceive as happiness today. For many can be fooled into thinking peace is happiness and happiness is a feeling. Our definition of happiness can sometimes consist of temporary feelings, situations, emotions. But feelings are up and down and unpredictable just as well situations and circumstances. None of which are solid and lasting. But God's definition of happiness can be much different. He says happiness is a soul satisfying serenity regardless of what is happening around us! That is exactly what Mary had.... a soul satisfying serenity that this was God's plan for her life and she would accept sight unseen.

You may ask - How can I have that kind of peace today in my world??
First know that it's available for anyone!! You don't buy it, achieve it, or inherit it.
Ready for this?
You trust.

Sound familiar?
I shared the very same formula previously in my last Blog for hope!
That's right.

1.) Hope and Peace share the very same perscription > > Trusting with an absolute trust in the utter and complete reliability of God who cares for you.
Trusting in his promises for you. Trusting in what he says will be even when we do not see it, hear it, or feel it. Trusting that God himself is the highest authority and he rules and overrules ALL. Trusting that he is your everything - - Counselor, Healer, Provision........ALL. In God and God alone you are and you will be taken care of....no matter what.

2.) Peace is NOT tied to circumstances!
If this were true, as mentioned above, our peace would be fleeting, here today gone tomorrow, unpredictable. Too many times we get caught up in saying
If only my spouse was _______.   Did  _______.   Acted like _____. 
If only my child(ren) were like ________. Did ______. Acted  like _____.
If only my family were like ________. Did ______. Acted like ______.
       (and the list goes on.....)
Then....THEN we could be happy and have peace!!!
My friend, again....thankfully our peace is NOT tied to circumstances.

3.) What our peace IS tied to is a person.....the person of G O D.
God and God alone will supply ALL your needs. Carry you through your storms. His person, his ways, his Word are trustworthy. For he is......faithful.

When we trust, it leads to surrender. And surrender leads to obedience.
Friend, surrender all your frettings to God as well as all your plans and watch how he works it all out for your very own good! And not only surrender, but obey his Words and his guidance he gives you.

And child of God....if you are saying "Peace isn't there." It could be that it's a matter of trust. Ask yourself : Where am I not trusting God in my life? What am I not trusting him with?
Just as sure as I know that God loves YOU.....he will most certainly accept your prayer of asking forgiveness for not trusting as he has asked us to. And....help you to once again began trusting with an absolute trust allowing his true PEACE to flow.

Let this Christmas be a time of HOPE and PEACE in your life.
Trusting in the complete and utter reliability of our God who knows and has promised to carry you through. :)

"Dear, How Long Is This Going To Take?"

My sweet husband is redoing a bathroom.
Nothing really spectacular about that for a story now is there? Although, I do think he IS spectacular and doing a wonderful job!

This particular bathroom has taken him at least 2 months to give his labor of love on. And shall I say....the work continues. In the beginning dear husband thought this project would take no more than 2 weekends to complete - - little did he know.

Carry on dear, for there really is light at the end of the tunnel!!

As I watch him work diligently on each project through completion, I think of God and how he works in our lives. We are individually each a project of God. Each area is a unique work of God. We trust him to form us into the very man/woman of God he has chosen us to be. With that said, there are times that God decides to take his time in the molding process. Instead of a short 2 weekend project, it becomes a lengthier one.

There are many areas of life that God is shaping daily. Our faith, our trust, our hope, our character, our obedience.....and the list goes on. In some areas he works quickly. In others, painfully slooow. But his timing is perfect always. There are times that we call upon God for healing from grief, loss, pain, discouragement and his answer is - wait on me, trust in me, hope in me. "Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Ps. 27:14. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5. "Those who hope in me will not be dissappointed." Isaiah 49:23c.

Maybe you have prayed for your children to have their eyes opened, their hearts softened, their wills brought into submission of living for him. And it may seem the more you pray, the further they drift out into this world. Does it hurt? You BETCHA! Is it discouraging? Absolutely! Does that mean you give up on God answering your prayers and delivering them? Ten million times over - a strong and absolute.....NO! what it does mean is that we keep on believing God's Word; never being moved away from it by what you see or feel. And as you stand firm, God's power is being developed in you. The fact of looking at your prayers and knowing this is God's will for your children's lives, and being unmoved by what you see or do NOT see- makes you stronger in every sense of the word.

I know that - "Deliverance comes from the Lord." Ps 3:8. I know that - "He rescues and he saves." Daniel 6:27. And I also know that - God uses his power to change the areas in my children's lives, and my own, that desperately need his touch. "Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outsretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17. I know that - God's timing is perfect and lacking nothing. Think of Abraham and Sarah who were promised a son. God required a whole 25 years to pass before that promise was fulfilled!! "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Hebrews 7:15.

And so my friend....whatever you are waiting on God for in your life - deliverance, hope, answers, strength, know that God hears, God sees, God knows. His answers will come in HIS timing. For we serve a faithful and trustworthy Lord God Almighty.

And just as I wait patiently on my loving husband to finish up what he has started.....I wait on a loving Father who will finish what he has started as well! "He who began a good work in you (or your children) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.

"Results or no results!"

Sometimes. . .  I think I'm the only one.

And then I stop and realize just how selfish is that?!

The father of lies wants us to be discouraged and decieved. When he succeeds he knows we aren't being our best for God. So what's the remedy? Don't listen!!

Let me explain myself. . .
Most know that I'm relatively a quiet person by nature. I'm not the center of attention . . . although oddly at times I like to be, I'm not loud and outgoing, but I am friendly, I don't have a big circle of friends, I'm not all involved and caught up in "Ladies ministries" at church, I don't have a job outside the home, my kids are human and have far to go,  my very BEST friend is my husband, and my ministry/gift is encouraging others, and.....I feel like I can do that best through writing.

My job as a mother is nearing it's end . . . .I know I know "Once a mother always a mother". . . but your influence can seem weak when 2 "adult" children live in your home. And all throughout our child rearing days I have turned to the leader of our home both spiritually and physcially to guide us through.....my David....so he makes many of the decisions. Yes indeed I know WHO leads him and I pray daily for that in his life!

So maybe you can see a little bit of me and understand when I say I don't always feel like I have a whole lot of influence, purpose and outreach in this world. Ya know....I have found it very easy to get on FB and get discouraged. You can get caught up in thinking everyone else's life  has lots of friends, lots of purpose, lots of good kids, lots of involvement, and this list goes on. . . .  But that really isn't the whole truth. There must be others, who like me, don't always feel as far reaching and purposeful as they would like to be.

As I said earlier. . . my gift (although I don't like referring to it as such because I feel like I'm lifting myself up) is encourager. My God given ability is writing. When God puts the two together I know that's how I can reach out to others hopefully to inspire, to strengthen, to lift up. I would love to write a book, but God hasn't put that into plan as of yet. I would love to have a story entered into the Guideposts inspirational magazines, but God hasn't put that into plans as well. I would love to write and encourage ANYWHERE God wants me to be . . .  and for now it is here with you through Blogs and status updates. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Blogging and am so very thankful for a very sweet friend who opened this world up to me! It has given me a chance to share me with you in ways that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. :) I sincerely hope and pray that with each Blog or status I share that you, my friend, find something to encourage you or even just make you smile.

The deception comes when I start thinking I'm reaching no one. . .  based on the lack of Comments/Likes . . or very few. And I will tell you that those who have shared their Comments/Likes regarding statuses and Blogs have been a great encouragement to me! I realize that I should not rely on this method to know that I'm reaching out to others and it is selfish of me to do so. The real me will tell you that I have another sweet friend (mentioned above) that is also an encourager through writing statuses and Blogs and it is at times of selfishness that I fall into the trap of listening to the deceiver say "SEE .... look at how many people she is influencing, helping, and encourging!" I know this is wrong. Michele, if you are reading this know that you are a wonderful friend, woman of God, encourager, and faithful servant. Blessings to you! Keep shining for HIM! And to you my readers. . . I'm sorry for my selfishness for I know that it is NOT based on the comments/likes or the lack thereof that tells me if I'm reaching out to others for God. There are those that do and those that don't.....and I thank God for both! Whether or not you are touched, inspired, encouraged, lifted up, or just made to smile.....I do it all for God and He is the One to receive glory and honor! :)

Just the other day, my Mom shared a very SPECIAL blessing with me! She has a circle of sweet ladies that are her friends and they call themselves the FIT group. As she went to their lunch outing, she told me how that my name was mentioned several times in regards to the Blogs I share and such. I will tell you wonderful ladies that may be reading this  - YOU each blessed this girl's heart and I am so very thankful for everyone of you! You brightened my day when my Mom called and told me!! :)  In saying that, I know that there are those that God has allowed me to reach out to and many times I'm not even aware of it! Thank you God!

So. . .  although I'm not a person with alot of friends, or an out-going and aggressively friendly person - God can and does use us quiet people too! I'm not the one with all the comments/likes, but I'm still reaching out to people others in ways I don't always see! I'm not busy and all caught up in other things like many are, but I am serving God through a mission led by our church! I don't have a job outside the home, but I do have lots of absolutely wonderful fun times with a husband who has work hours to do this! My kids aren't as good as yours sometimes, but they are my gifts from and by our God who is molding, shaping and leading them to be what He wants them to be! My influence may seem weak at times as a mother, but I'm gonna keep loving, praying for and being the best Mom I can be! And although I may not have many visible outlets to share a ministry through writing, I'm gonna keep writing and praying that God uses what I can offer to do His will!
(Results or no results.....for they are all in His hands. )

Don't get discouraged, my friend, when you physical eyes may not see and your physical ears may not hear for "We never know how far reaching something we may say or do today will effect the... lives of millions tomorrow." And never compare your blessings to the blessings of others for they are given to you by our God who loves you and knows you best!

Above all. . .  know that each of our purposes is to have a relationship with Jesus our Lord and our Savior as well as to bring Him glory, praise, worship and thanksgiving to Him alone. For there is no other greater purpose!

Thanks for letting me.....be me. :)