"A Birthday of Love and Special Memories Shared With You!"

Rather than post some pictures, with cute little meaningless captions, that probably no one sees on Facebook, I decided to share through a Blog.
For the week of June 28th - July 4rth would be as my Mother happily called it - "The week to go down in the book of memories for all time!!" You see. . . this was a week especially just for her. It was to be a gift of love from her wonderful son-in-law in everyway as well as a daughter that loves her plentifully. And not only from these two, but I believe from her dear sweet twin sister who celebrated 72 blessed birthdays here by her side.....and on the 73rd one happily watching from Heaven above. I truly believe she was very much a part of it ALL just as she always has been. :) Thank you Auntie for helping God and us to give my Mother such a wonderful birthday present of love! :)

David and I planned a birthday trip for her in advance. First, we decided we would take her and my Dad to see my brother and his family in Enid, Oklahoma for the weekend. Second, we would drive to Branson, Missouri from Enid and stay there for most of the week. And third, this part of the trip was so spontaneous that none of us knew about it until it happened. We surprised her with all of this news and then told her to sit down at the computer and pick out some shows and events she would like to do while in Branson. It was slightly overwhelming, but together we made our choices. We showed her the cabins we would be staying in while there. Soon everything was booked and ready to go. Now all we had to do was wait!!

FINALLY....the big day arrived!!!

David and I packed down my Jeep, made sure all 4 animals had been taken care of, said "Goodbye and be GOOD" to our son (who we left at home for an entire week by himself!!) . . . and we were off. . .

First stop, pick up Mom and Dad in Irving! We ate lunch with them at one of our all time favorite spots "Braums" and of course it was dee-licious! We loaded them up and headed for Enid! Nine and a half hours of driving from Atascocita and we arrived!! My brother Dan was beyond shocked, animated (as always), and quite entertained by the fact that he hadn't seen David since his major weight loss. He was rather intriqued by the whole matter and it took time for his animation to wear down. . . as usual. Haha! There are NO words to describe my brother for those who know nothing of him. He is beyond your wildest imaginative thoughts indeed. . . and me knowing him - he will absolutely LOVE reading those words!! You're welcome Dan. :)
We would eat dinner with Dan, wife Kim, and daughter Megan at El chicos that evening. Later, Dan would come entertain us in our hotel room with Megan. Or maybe it better said - Dan came over to entertain Debby - David watched - Megan fell asleep on the bed. When my brother and I get together - ALL the world becomes a genuinly GOOFY place to be!! :)

(I had to add this picture here so that when you see my Blog it shows her)



Saturday came and we were off on a new adventure! David had found a brochure about a place called "The Little Sahara". He mentioned it to Dan << he excitedly told us he had always wanted to go there. So off we went! The Little Sahara is a place like none other we had seen. It was just about 1 1/2 hrs from Enid and it was simply amazing to see.....sand dunes.....pure sand and only sand everywhere! It was just as if God had poured out his entire sand bucket in one section of his creation! How did ALL this sand get here? Scientist have their theories, people have their myths - but we have God and no one else but Him could have done this. It was a sight! We were there to ride ATVs over the dunes, buuut it was not to be. The place that rented the ATVs said no rentals past 12 noon because it's too hot. Are you serious!! It was hot yes...but not Houston hot! We were told we could BUY a flag for $25 and put it on our Jeep...but that would include a minor detail....DRILLING a hole in it! So, instead we all walked up a steep sandy hill and onto a unfinished observation place. David so wants to bring Levi back to do this sometime....riding the ATVs that is. Better come before noon!!

We had a wonderful weekend with Dan and his family. On Sunday he wanted to wash and wax my Jeep before we left. When I say wash and wax you have NO idea what I'm saying. This boy can put a lasting shine on your car like nobody can! He got his authoritive voice on and even got David scrubbing and polishing! It was fun to watch and observe. As always....Dan makes life fun. :)

My Jeep stayed CLEAN the rest of our trip to Missouri and Arkansas and all the way back home!!

After eating my most favorite place of any - SUBWAY - we were saying our "Goodbyes" and hitting the road for Branson, Missiouri!We arrived in Branson that evening and let me tell you the weather was nothing but amazing....in fact the rest of the week it was amazing! Lows in the 50-60s and highs would be low 80. Awesome!

We were finally at our beautiful cabin and we were pleasantly suprised at just how beautiful it was! My Mother exclaimed that she had found her dream home afterall. :) It was literally on the side of a mountain as if you were out in the woods<<my forever sweet spot in this world- - - but just a block or so from the main strip itself. The best of both worlds I would say!



This was the backside. It had a screened in porch, right off our bedroom, that would quickly become our favorite spot. That pond, although yucky looking from this view, held all the beautiful night sounds that I have loved since I can remember! If I could put my recording of it all on here I would! We even saw a baby deer all alone coming for a few days to drink in the mornings. Beautiful birds as well as coons too.



See...I told you we like this spot! :)

This entry into the Guest Book that I wrote would explain our whole trip and the very reason for it:

Happy Birthday to you Mother!! :)

Monday came upon us and we were up and ready to go start our adventures! First on the agenda: take a cruise! That's right! I've made it quite clear to all my family that I will NOT be stuck on a boat, a plane, an elevator, or anything I cannot get off of at any given time. So, when we were getting ready to board our "cruise" I simply texted my children "Mom IS going on a cruise...believe it!!" Ok...so what if it only was a 2 hour cruise and what if it only was just a paddle wheel cruiser?! We had FUN....and that's what counts!!

Everyone scrambled to the open deck above so we chose the lower enclosed seating down below. It was perfect! Air conditioned, quiet, and to ourselves! We were served a delicious lunch.

The water was so beautiful and the scenery gorgeous!

I love this picture of the two of them. So cute they are. :)

Later, that evening we were off to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede show! I will tell you that my dear, sweet, wonderful husband literally became the "Snicker's Diva" at this one. You know....the commercials where someone is hungry and turning into someone they are not until another person gets them a snickers candy bar and tells them to eat it....and once again returning to their former self. We had been told that this show would have a very LARGE meal served at it and not to eat a thing before the show started at 8pm. Next time we will know better. The tourist lady we dealt with even said "O we never recommend people booking the boat cruise lunch as the same day as the Dixie Stampede show.....too much food in one day. They were wrong. Let's just say none whatsoever of the pre-show nor the show itself was very desirable to my diva-starving-husband....that is until somewhere around 8:30ish and he began to get some food.....mind you we had been here already since 6:45 (told to be early and had a pre-show). Once he got some food in him the show became one of the best ever! Haha! It really was an AWESOME show....there was everything I loved in it.....Indians, Cowboys, Pioneers, real animals, skill, tricks, AND even comedy!! 

Each day was such a blessing in little and big ways! I know God had his hand upon it all and he even had help from Auntie herself. Each place we were led to go to eat seemed like it was hand-picked by those two, for there would be christian music playing or not crowded or even both. Even our times of goin to the shows and events were met with little to slim lines....and Branson is a very crowded tourist place! Just go to Dick's 5 & Dime....and you'll for sure find the crowds there! It's an original 5 & dime and sales all of the old things of long ago forgotten days. Neat store....but far too crowded for us. I spoke of my Aunt helping....funny story.....we traveled alot of the back roads to stay away from the crowds coming in and letting out from the shows on main strip. Sometimes, even David can get lost. :) We were looking for a store to get some groceries from and was getting nowhere. All of the sudden out of the blue we hear a female voice in the backseat firmly and confidently say "Turn left." << it was my Mother's GPS on her phone, but we all decided it was Sandra telling us where to go. David turned left and continued to follow her commands. She got us to a WalMart and once there we said "Thank you, Sandra!" :)

While in town one day, my Dad came upon his brother. See for yourself!

Sidenote: We also came upon one of my very favorite newest store while in town.....a place with two names: "Pennies From Heaven" "The Copper Coin". It was definitely my store! The lady owner that founded and ran the place had a very inspirational story to go along with why she sold what she did....but I won't go into all of that. I will share that she places GREAT emphasis in finding pennies on the ground. In fact EVERYTHING that she sold had one shiny copper penny attached to it. The pennies symbolized her trust in God. For on the penny it says "In God we trust". Her story and reason for sharing the penny struck a mighty BIG thing with me! For a few years now I have collected pennies found on the ground, for they too have helped me to believe that when found - God is reminding me that He knows where I am and that I can trust in Him in all things. The whole place was very encouraging to me....and of course I had to purchase something. My Mother actually bought it for me as a Thank You gift for all that we were doing for her! :) It was quite fitting that she would give it to me for on it had the very words of scripture she gave to me on my birthday - Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Tuesday was here and we had places to go and people to see....alot of them dead though!

First stop....my much anticipated event....the TITANIC museum!! As any member of my family knows this girl loves museums....it's usually the people I'm with that become dislikers of them!! I can read forever and that's no exageration! Just 4 hours and 40 minutes into the museum and dear David finally said "Alright...that's it....you're done." Hahaha! He is soooo very patient with me....thankfully! I can remember a time of going through a museum while our kids were still small. David lovingly told me to take my time and enjoy while he and the kids went at their own pace. He then took them outside and played with them giving me all the time I needed. What a guy! Sooo....I'm normally well behind everyone when it comes to museums. Funny thing - - my daughter texted me the other day and said "I always thought I hated museums. Then I went with other people. Found out they weren't that bad." That made me laugh in big ways!! LOL! :) Ah well.....



It was very realistic and quite interesting, but left you with alot of unanswered questions and confusion. We each were handed a boarding ticket, upon entrance, of an actual person riding the ship that fateful night. At the end of the museum you find out if your person survived or perished. We all survived....except my Dad.

Next on our agenda was the wonderful show of "Joseph" for the evening! But first, we had to make sure dear David got something to eat this time...or else. :) Our little dinner was quite fun and satisfying.



Jospeh was a spectacular play! Very professionally and beautifully scripted out. A story of forgiveness and trust in our God alone. We had perfect seats! The Amish people thought so too and came and joined us. There was 13 Amish that came and sat right behind us. At intermission, my Mother could no longer stand it...she had to do what she does best....TALK to them. She stood up, turns to them, leans over the chairs and says "Now all y'all Amish or Mennonites?" And thus began their conversation......that's my Mother! Gotta love her. :) 

You can see 4 of the Amish directly behind. I was a little concerned that I would offend them by taking this picture. But, they handled it fine. :)



An evening of relaxing after a big day!



Wednesday dawneth....and here we goooo!

Today's plans? Go to the historical <<another word this girl loooves>> homesite of  a family who lived long ago in the beautiful Ozark mountains! Yes, I love History! So, we thought this was just another historical home place to see and tour. Little did we know that it was national acclaim! If any of you have ever heard of the book "Shepherd of the Hills" this is from where the book was written and the lives of the characters were written about. It was written in 1907 and would make the 4rth most popular book ever read.

Remember those Amish people we were with the evening before? Yes sir....they were back! We, in fact, took the whole tour with them. My Mother, being her sweet, fun-loving self, quite animatedly welcomed them back too. They were quite friendly with us and rather knowledgable about .....well everything. The tour guide started us off by saying "Who all has read 'The Shepherd of the Hills' book?" Every single one of the 13 Amish people, (kids included), raised their hands confidently! It must have been required reading in their clan or something. :) And well as for us 4?? Nooope....not a one of us. On into the tour, David made a comment about this being really interesting to which one of the Amish ladies leans over and said "It would have been more interesting had you read the book!" Haha! :)



My Dad bought a new belt buckle while there. :)

I love this picture of my Dad....he just is so at home and fits in perfectly here. :)

The beautiful view these mountain people once had from their home! No paved road there, of course, and all that lucious green you see farther out is a deep valley with more mountains beyond.

I'm entering a pretty little church built in 1901. Love old churches!

It was a beautiful old place full of history and long ago days.

Later, it was time to get Grandma her nap while David and I went shopping on our own. We were in search of gift souvenirs for our children. Hey Mom got more souvenirs too....can't beat that!! We had dinner with my folks and soon were off for our last and final show of our trip. This last show would turn out to be the oddest of all shows. Let's just say....our expectations were far off the charts than the actual reality was. For those of you who know and are familiar with the Cirque de Soleil acts you know these are very professionally done performances. So can you blame us when we booked a show titled Cirque Montague that we had the very same high expectations?? We were met with surprise.....maybe what was missing this time was those two little letters "de" .....we will know better next time. Although, mostly entertaining for what it was....Cirque de Soleil it was not.



One of the performers was a Uni-cycle riding Mime....probably one of the best performers they had. He came and visited David before the show.



The Mime "told" David to take their picture together...that is what he is attempting. :)



Thursday arrived.....the day we loaded up and said our goodbyes to the wonderful memories made. :)

David and I had decided that we would take the long way home and surprise my Dad with going through his hometown....what's left of it.....Antoine and Delight, Arkansas. We told my Mother of our plans and she was so excited for my Dad. Four and half hours later and we would arrive ..........



And this. . . .

But this is a whole other Blog I'm going to be writing about soon! When we got back to Irving, we had my Dad sit down and voice recorded just about 50 mins of him retelling his childhood days of long ago. I'm anxious to get started on it!!



There is one very special and dear picture I will share last with you. For in it it shows the sweet love one special Son In Law has for his Mother In Law. I will tell you that each and every single stop we made and each and every single time we got in my Jeep my David was getting a little blue stool out for his M-I-L to step out or up in so that she could enter and exit my Jeep! That meant so very much to her and since our trip has bragged to all her friends about her wonderful S-I-L. <3 She is loved. :)

A beautiful smile on a beautiful lady.

So, that was our trip {in short} shared with you!

It was a week of specially made memories for a specially made lady.

I love you my Mother.....I always have....I always will.

THE END.



"Celebrating Her. . . "

This Sunday, June 30, marks a very special day. It is the day that we celebrate two very beautiful women's lifes here on earth. The two beautiful women I speak of are my own dear mother and her sweet twin sister. One we celebrate here on earth. The other we celebrate living joyously in Heaven.

I have been wanting to write a special Blog in celebration of my Aunt, but all the while not being sure of how to share. For it is not sadness I want to bring, but rather a smile. I know that is what Auntie would want afterall. :) I do not write this Blog in "memory" of her - - for she has never been forgotten. I write it simply to celebrate her and the beautiful presence she was in her time on this earth.

I shared, in April of 2012, a Blog in honor of her and some of the many memories we made here together.
http://lifeiswhatgodmakesit.blogspot.com/2012/04/if-you-had-chancewould-you.html That link should take you there if you would like to read. There is a very dear memory that I did not share in that Blog and since then I have wanted to. Although it may not mean much to others reading, it is very meaningful to me. I have memories of laying on her bed, an old fashioned wire table fan blowing gently on me, listening to the old classic Disney 45 records, and looking at the big colorful pages of the album they came in. If I can remember correctly there was The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Polyana. . . to name a few. I must have listened to Mary Poppins quite often for out of all, it is the very one that brings the MOST memories alive. I bought the Mary Poppins soundtrack sometime back and play it many times over. When I do, I can't help but believe that Aunt Sandra is dancing around the house along with me as we loudly belt out the songs together. Or in the times of just sitting quietly and listening while tears stream down my face. It is in those times - whether dancing and singing loudly or just quietly sitting and listening - that I often feel the closest to her. I can't help but believe that the very last song on the album/CD must have been one of her favorites "Let's Go Fly a Kite!" for it is one that we sing the loudest together. :) I would have loved dearly to have thought to ask for those records in times past.

Though we can not reach out and physically touch her, verbally hear her, or see her, we do celebrate not only who she was - but who she IS today. Her presence here while on earth was a blessing to many countless lives. She was a tender heart, with a pretty smile, a tell it how it is attitude, and an inspiration to those around her. And today - - today she is a living, breathing, very much alive, vibrant, healthy, O so happy daughter of God Himself!! She is alive and living, more than we possibly could be, in every sense of the word!! Her days are filled and overflowing with the truest form of JOY, while she is praising and rejoicing and serving God!! How wonderfully A M A Z I N G will that day be for each of us when our time has come!! We will not only be alongside her, but also rejoicing, praising, and serving God Himself as well!! Can't wait!! :)

For those of you reading along, I ask that if you would just stop and say a prayer for each of her family members during this time. There is hope most assuredly for all of us, for we each one day soon be reunited with her. But it is during that waiting moment that we sometimes need prayer. Thank you!

And to my dear, sweet, never forgotten, Auntie - - I loved you then, I love you now....I always have, I always will.

Happy earth Birthday this Sunday!! :)

The beautiful SMILES I leave you with. . . .



"Two Paths....One Choice"

David and I often love to ride our bikes anywhere and everywhere. Hot or cold....sunny or rainy....
Any day is a good day when you can ride a bike! :)

This past Friday we tried our bikes out on the trails instead of paved cement. I have to say it was AWESOME!!! I really think I could do a mountain bike excursion....going down a mountain!! I say the word "down" because going "UP" the mountain might do me in for sure! As we were bumping along the trails and pushing through the brush, I laughed as David said, "You do know these bikes are not made for this don't you??" We have the old timey Cruiser replicas. I didn't care....I laughed and pushed my way through, almost falling several times. :) I absolutely love adventures!!

After we first arrived, I took a picture of the path that lay ahead of us.

It was relatively wide and open with easy access as well as comfortable easy riding. No thick foliage to push through and not many if any bumps to ride over. It was very scenic.

And then we took the real trails leading off of that one. . .



Although this was not the "top adventure" trail I speak of in the earlier part of my story, it was MORE narrower than the first, MORE bumpier than the first, and certainly alot more skills were needed as you are gripping the handle bars now more tightly while bumping, twisting, turning, picking up speed, and pulling all the O so STICKY spider webs off of you!! (By the way....I was informed by dear David that he received not one single spider web on him all thanks to his wife who combatted her way through them first. Glad to be of service dear.)

I did not take a picture of our most dense path we took. Let your funny imagination create an image here of a very silly wife laughing loudly, falling mostly, and looking hideous in her extreme  pleasure as her sweet and wonderful husband follows along behind her smiling to himself in how crazy his funny wife is. :)

As I thought about the two paths that I DID take pictures of - - - a thought began to take shape as it often does when I'm searching for a Blog to share.

These two paths can be very symbolic of what God talks about in Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

I see the first path representing the "wide gate and broad road" that is taken by so many people in our world today. It is the easy path, the open path, the comfortable and well traveled path. It is also a path that leads to destruction and many people can unknowingly be deceived into thinking otherwise. It's the world's way...the one that says "God loves everybody and if you're good enough and even if you're not....He would never send you to a place called Hell." "Afterall...you're not as BAD as that person...."

The second path represents the "narrow gate...and narrow is the road that leads to life." Few are said to find it because of one of the many great deceptions of simply them being "good enough" will ensure their road to Heaven. Sadly...it won't. Jesus said in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  Also, in John 10:9 he says: "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved."

Friend, there is only one path we must choose....the "narrow one"....the one that leads to life in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

As always I want to share with you how you can do that....just as I have in recent Blogs. For I want everyone to hear and know about the "narrow road" that leads to life!! :)

The following was taken and copied from a previos Blog I had shared in the past - - -

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Have you ever heard the question asked "If you were to die today and went to Heaven and God stopped you and said 'Why should I let you into my kingdom?' what would you say?"  Many people have what they feel are genuinely perfect answers for this and many consist of them being simply good enough to earn their way in. Or. . .  Church membership. Baptized. Family heritage. Giving enough money. Others may believe that a loving God could never send anyONE to such a horrible place as hell and therefore make their way in as well. Well, sadly...none of this thinking is right. There is only ONE way and ONE way only....and that being through the perfect blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation. Through His sacrifice for our sins, we receive the grace that He freely gives. We receive it through faith and faith itself is also given to us by and through God.

I could really draw this blog out with more lengthy discussions. But I believe that salvation is simple and therefore should be presented in a simple manner. That statement reminds me of a very special Christian kindergarten teacher I had a long time ago. I had asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 5 (also being the time of attending her class). She had ran into my Mom years later and had heard that I was struggling with doubts of my salvation. She replied to my Mom "Tell her to quit making it so HARD." Salvation is not a complicated thing...but sometimes we as humans tend to make it hard.

First, know that we ALL have sinned. If you have broken just one commandment...and we all have....then you are guilty of sin.
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one."
Romans 3:23 - "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 5:12 - "Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because ALL sinned."

Second, the price has been paid!
Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!"
Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Third, how we receive our gift!
Romans 10:9-10 - "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

It's as simple as ABC!
A= Accept that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour!
B= Believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead!
C= Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and call upon Him to save YOU from your sins!

Lastly, we know that when we call - He hears!
Romans 10:13 - "For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will BE saved!"
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that NOT of yourself, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no man can boast." If it were by works anyway...someone would ALWAYS be better than you. . . and whose to say where the line would be drawn?? Side tidbit there. :)

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I try hard not to be too repetitive in my Blogging. But, this dear friend, is worth repeating many times over. :)

Won't you choose the path that leads to life eternal today if you have not?

I leave you with a very beautiful part of God's creation that I was able to take a picture of while on our paths. In my thinking it represents God's happiness. And it reminds me that we can be happy in Him....for He is faithful and trustworthy!!

"The Little Girl on the Bicycle"



David and I often ride bikes. In fact, we choose to ride bikes wherever we go rather than riding in the car when possible. We both enjoy the exercise, being active together, and enjoy being outdooors. I admire his willingness to hop on his bike, after a long day at work, and go for a ride with me. :)

The other day, as we were riding, a little girl appeared in front of us. I didn't see from what direction she came. . . it was just as if she showed up. As we followed her, I noticed how young she was and how, in this day and time, it seemed odd that she would seemingly be so far from home without an adult close by. She pedaled on crossing a couple of busy neighborhood streets. She wasn't on a leasurily kid-ride, but pedaled with great intent, stopping only once to grab a precious souvenir (a feathery stalk from a flowering plant). She was off once again with great determination to reach her desired destination. We continued to follow her. We usually have no problem passing others on bikes, or people walking - this girl was pedaling! Watching this little girl brought back memories for me in a sweet and tender way. I too was once that little girl pedaling hard and with great purpose. She reminded me of being O so young and on my own each day. For back LONG ago, starting around the age of 6 or 7, I would ride my bike over a mile each way to school. Heck the way I went could've been 2 miles each way! I am so thankful that my Mother had the faith to let me have that freedom at such an early age. For in this day I don't believe many Mothers would. As some say, "things were different back in the day". I doubt that, for evil and bad have always been. . . they just weren't talked about and made public as they are today. I can remember crossing very BUSY streets for someone so small. I remember the "scary streets" too that you didn't just pedal casually on, but rather stood up on the pedals and gave it all you had! As I look back, I am amazed and all the while thankful for both a Mother willing to give her child an early independence AND for my God who was with me to watch over me....every pedal of the way.

As we followed on, my phone distracted me from my thoughts of long ago. We stopped only briefly to check the distraction. As we started back on our way, I noticed the little girl was no longer in front of us. I pedaled on a little faster to search where she may have gone. I could see for quite a ways up ahead....nothing. I could see to the left where the streets intersected.....nothing. It was as if she simply vanished....gone just like that. We do entertain "angels unaware" as the Bible says! I believe it whole heartedly too!! Maybe she was the little angel that would remind me how that God has been with me all along....never leaving nor forsaking me....even in my worst times....even in my times of doubt....even in my good times....always with me. Or maybe she was the little girl that God himself would call me to pray for. That is exactly what I did as I rode. I prayed for her safety and protection, for her to know she is loved, for her to make wise decisions for all the days that lay ahead, and most of all - for her to know the Lord as her Savior. I have prayed since then when God brings her to my mind. I pray with great emphasis that God leads and protects her with all the many choices that lie ahead of her. How awesome would it be to know that a stranger {a kind unknown person} would take the time to stop and pray for your very child?! I would absolutely LOVE to know that there are people praying for my children that I don't even know!!

Regardless of the many questions there may have been as to why this child would appear such as she did and then be gone just like that ( I do tend to have an analytical mind sometimes ha!). I find these things to be certain and true::
1. God has been with me always and never leaves me. Just as He was with her. He crossed the "busy streets" of life with me and He even carried me through the "scary streets". He isn't just with me in those times but also in the "happy times" of enjoying life as David and I do together.
2. Jesus prays for me. Even when no one else is praying for me I know that He is. No one may have thought that day to stop and say a prayer for this little girl, but Jesus was and He even invited me to join along with Him in it.
3. We can trust God to get us to our desired safe haven for He alone is trustworthy. Just as He took this little one safely to her destination....back to Heaven or to her house! :)

Friend, know that YOU too can have those assurances!

For if you too have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior of your heart then He assures you that YES He is with you today....tomorrow.....and always {He was even with you yesterday too!} You are never ever alone. If you are in times of doubt, pain, hardships, trials do NOT ever give up on Him. For He alone is supremely trustworthy and will carry you to your safe haven. He not only will help you, but He IS helping you even now. Sometimes we just need to give Him more time and space....and wait. But never quit trusting....NEVER. If you are having a hard time doing so then tell God and ask Him to be the trust that you need. He understands. Afterall...who knows us better than the very One Who created us?!

Also, know that Jesus does pray for you to God the Father. When it seems no one else knows and no one else cares....He does. And He lives to intercede for YOU. John 17:9 "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." God intercedes for us in our weakness for us personally. Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." How empowering to know that Jesus the Holy Spirit prays for us in our weakest moments!!

And lastly....God will take you safely to your safe haven. Psalm 107:28-30 "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." We can be confident in Him because of Isaiah 46: 4 "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."

I leave you with this: 2 Timothy 4:18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Friend....He is with you....pedaling through life's journey WITH you. Never give up trusting in Him alone.