"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.

"It Did Happen. . . 20 Years Ago!"

This past week marked a significant time that dates back 20 years ago. The people involved were me, David, Heather and Savannah. Of course there was no Levi yet. It was a difficult time and a sad time unlike any other I had experienced previously. . . But it was a necessary time.

You see. . .  it was a time when my David left us.

Now take your hand and use it to push your gaping mouth shut.

For this was a time of separation that would end permanently in approximately three months. Though it was only three, they would seem forever and undendingly LONG. In fact, I gratefully respect all women who are left to be without their husbands for whatever reasons for it is something I wish never to revisit. Anyone who knows me well knows that David and I were created to walk the face of this earth. . . . together. . . no other way. Now for all of you who may be wondering what in the world could have happened to cause this separation, I will tell you. Simply put - David joined the astute world of Air Traffic Control. This in turn would require him to pack up and leave his family for the measure of said three months. He would live in an apartment, supplemented by the FAA, in Oklahoma City. It was clearly put that no family whatsoever was to join him and evenso was highly recommended that family not visit as well. To which I say is RIDICULOUS, but no one asked me, so I go on with my story. . . .

I am sharing a very special picture with you. It is one that has become a favorite for in all it's pathetic looking ways it's one of a young mother, with her babies, uncertain of the days ahead but yet trusting God to see her through.

(This was taken the day of or week of David's departure. We are patiently waiting Grandma and Grandpa to come and visit us for some company. They pulled up and this was the sight they saw sitting on the driveway.)

This past week I texted Heather and told her what this time represented 20 years ago to which she lovingly replies "Wow your weird." Not quite the words I was seeking, but then again, that's my Heather. Can't say that I blame her much though, afterall. . . she was only 3 years old. Savannah had just turned 4 months if you were wondering too. 

Today I look back and try to remember just HOW did I make it during that time?!?! I feel like I do good today just to busy myself enough to make it through the short time David is at work now! I know that it is always the same answer that I find in looking back and wondering how we endured each circumstance of what God would bring our way and that is. . . . God Himself . I believe, for the most part, God helped me to just take one day at a time. . . even when I would look at the clock on the wall and see it saying just 6:00 in the evening wondering to myself will this day ever end?? And .... it did.

It was a time of growing up too. Although I'm NOT nearly as young as I look in that picture, I'm sure I still needed God to show me the independence I must have learned at some point in time. You see, I went straight from my parent's home at 21 to my married home. There was no college life, single life, living on my own kinda stuff in this girl's life. So this part of life was very well ALL new. I will proudly tell you that I lived on my own with my 2 girls for a grand total of 5 weeks. . . and then I became sick. To me those 5 weeks were an accomplishment in every way. . . even through the tears when my Heather was so sick that she wouldn't eat or drink and as my parents came over to check on her I just sat and cried my heart out telling them I wasn't made to do this without my David. At 5 weeks though my sickness was too much for me to handle while trying to take care of 2 babies. I was running alot of fever, so my Dad graciously drove from the town of Irving to Arlington so that I could have their help. I was very sick and this was be a burden lifted indeed. I would live with them for approximately 4 weeks. As anyone knows, it's never easy going back home nor is it easy receiving your child along with her 2 children as well. But, they were my God sent and together. . . we would make it through.

Another God sent was my Mother In Law and Sister In Law who would take me to see my David, along with our 2 girls, on one such weekend. And YES we went.....no amount of "suggested and recommended" rules was going to keep me away any longer!! In fact, I remember now. . .during the latter part of his time there we were "allowed" to come and even stay there for 3 weeks. I was feeling WHOLE again. . . . I do know that!! My David was by my side. . . when he could be that is.

I'm sure trust, as mentioned above regarding the picture, was something that increased not only in our spiritual lives, but in our physical ones too. God was faithful. . . yes.. . and He would see us through. . . just as He had seen us through our second pregnancy with Savannah. David got laid off from work a total of 10 months during that unknowing time. We just always knew God would provide. But we would also have to learn to trust in the faithfulness of one another being so very far apart. It wasn't easy sometimes, but yet again, God was there to help us. 

After our time of endurement was up, we would learn the next news that would forever change our world. It was then that I received a phone call from my husband asking me simply the question, "What do you think about Houston?" I'm sure I must of conceived it as some kind of joke, but nonetheless.....it wasn't. So, once again we would take that step of faith as God would choose to move us forever away from all that we would know - family, friends, and our hometown. For all who know, leaving all that you know and love is never easy. And all those who don't know what a BLESSING you have to live near your family I will be the first to tell you.....YOU are blessed!! I seriously doubt we will ever live by our family again - but God has His reasons though not always understandable ones. Now Mother put a smile back on your face while you're reading this. . . . count your blessings!! There's a plenty! :)  

God brought us on our journey and He never once left our side. Houston as we know it is home. As I look back and try to think back through the sum total of 20 years I realize two things. 1. It's a loooong time, but goes by Oooo so quickly in the reality of life. 2. We would never in a million years dream up some of the things God has allowed and taken us through!! And this simple story is very small in comparison to which I'm talking about. But in all this stuff we call living. . . . we have, we do, and we will continue to learn of God's faithfulness and His trustworthiness through it ALL.

And guess what?? We survived!!

Twenty years later....and here we are!! :)



"Footprints of Time"

The weekend of our wedding anniversary, David, me, Levi and his friend got to go to a wonderful place by the name of Pensacola Beach, Florida. It was simply an amazing time! The beach, the water, NO crowds, the time spent together, the activities all rolled into one was a BIG blessing from God Himself.
We are thankful! We are even more thankful for the meaning of our trip for which we celebrated. . . 24 very blessed years together as two best friends living a life together as one. I am beyond grateful for the beautiful gift that God has given me in this life.



As you know when you are at a beach. . . you leave footprints everywhere you go. There are millions of footprints coming and going in all different directions. Big, little, fat and skinny prints all belonging to many various different people. But the one thing they all have in common - they are all only there briefly in time - and some even more brief than others. I took a picture of this particular subject and it happens to be one of my favorite pictures! It represents so much!!

One morning, David was sitting out on the beach watching people as we often like to do. He noticed a family of 4 running by. As they did, there were footprints left on the beach. Soon after though the tide came up and washed them all away as if they had never been before. David sat there thinking to himself "I bet Deb could write a Blog about that." He later told me his thoughts and thus, as he said, became a good Blogger subject! :) Btw...please click on the above picture and it will enlarge. I really love the beauty of it and don't want you to miss it!

As I think about footprints on a beach I am reminded of the age old poem called simply "Footprints". It is a reminder to us that often when we feel that God isn't helping us in our time of need. . . that truly He is. For as we complain and cry out to God saying "Why didn't you help me??" He gently says "I was there all along. . . . carrying you in my arms of love." That is why we look and only see one set of prints in the sand. I am also reminded that each of us carry our own set of footprints here upon this earth. We each are going in different directions, striving for different goals and have different walks of life. Some have footprints of persuing what's ahead such as a career, a marriage, children. Some have footprints of walking through days of being a wife, a mom, or simply a servant of God. Some have footprints of things accomplished - kids raised and retirement. They may see ahead to numbered days, but just as well knowing their life has been full.

Whatever your walk, whatever your direction. . . . a question comes to mind. What footprints are you leaving behind for others to see? Are they deep selfish prints heading in a direction that is centered around you and no one else? Are they scared prints hoping here and there in fear that God is not going to see you through your situation? Are they dragging prints saying I'm lazy and I don't want to do my part? Are they running here and there prints saying I'm confused. I'm running in all directions trying to make sure all turns out right?

OR - - -

Are they sure, steadfast, confident steps saying : 

• I want to walk as Jesus walked upon this earth. Loving and giving myself to others as doing it unto Him.
• I don't have all the answers, but I trust in a God Who does. He WILL see me through no matter what.
• I may not can do everything, but I can do my part to be who God wants me to be. A wife, a Mom, a friend, a servant of God.
• No matter how much people may want control of life's situation - they simply will NOT be. God is sovereign, He is trustworthy and He is able. His purpose will be done regardless of your fruitless efforts.

So stop stomping, hoping, dragging and circling. . .  for God is and will forever be more than enough to carry us through whatever He has in store for us! Trust HIM!

Know too that our footprints are only here for a very brief time before they vanish just as on the beach. Make the most of each and every opportunity God gives you to leave footprints of love, forgiveness, acceptance, gratitude and mercy in another's life.



And my friend, when you turn around and only see one set of footprints through your life. . . know that it was God carrying you in His arms, by His heart.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

Isaiah 46:4