Happy Mother's Day!

5 reasons I love Mother's Day!

From left to right: Daughter # 3, Joy Beth, #2, Jessica, son-in-love, Brandon married to #1, Jennifer, #4, Jordan.

God just flat outdid Himself when He gifted me with these 5! Aren't they beautiful? God IS better than He has to be!

Thankful Thursday

I haven't participated in Thankful Thursdays in a while. Now is a good time to get back in the game. I have so much to be thankful for today....

1. The faithfulness of our God and the truth of His Word...need I say more?

2. Our oldest daughter Jennifer was able to spend the week with us. Coming home from school

and seeing her on the couch....just like old times....how sweet!

3. Only 30 school days left til summer break!

4. The encouragement and blessing I get from the "blog world". You bloggity friends are

awesome! I love to read what God is doing in your lives...I learn so much.

5. I won the give-away this month at Praise and Coffee! A Mercy Me CD and Starbucks coffee...

does it get any better? Thank you Sue!

6. They sang Shout to the Lord on Idol Gives Back last night!!! Wasn't too happy about them taking out Jesus' name, but what do you expect from the lost? They just don't get it...can't hold them accountable. He was praised nevertheless...how cool was that?!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits.

Who pardons all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion,

Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Psalm 103: 1-5

Big News!

I have been meaning to make this announcement for a while now. I have known of this since Christmas and couldn't wait to tell my bloggity friends, but as you can see from my sparse posting, I haven't had much time at the computer and what little I have posted hasn't always been that upbeat. So it's time for some really great news, and I want you all to know.........I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER!!!!!!!! How cool is that?! And.....we just found out the baby is a BOY! As you can see from my profile, I am the mother of 4 girls...my girl world has just been rocked! Along with my oldest daughter, Jennifer and her husband Brandon, we will welcome little "Andy" to our family in August! I'm teary-eyed just thinking about it! Jen emailed the baby's ultra-sound pictures the other day and I fell head-over-heels in love with the little guy. I can't imagine what he'll do to my heart once he gets here. I think I'm done for! What a wonder it is to get to peer into the "secret place" where he is being "skillfully wrought". Wonderful are your works, O Lord! (Psalm 139:13-16) I know absolutely nothing about little boys, but I intend on having a wonderful time learning!

God is so good!

WHY?

Why do we ask WHY? Trials, heartaches, pain, etc.,... are they not just par for the course in this

world? Did Jesus not tell us..."in this world you WILL have trouble?" If our heavenly Father

gave us an answer, would it make the pain any more bearable? Would our finite minds even be

capable of understanding infinite wisdom? After Jesus told of us that trouble was a sure thing,

He then added...."but take courage, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He knows we are

scared senseless by the troubles of this world. The courage we need to overcome is not found in

answered questions, but in the person of Christ. I have asked the WHY questions myself which

have driven me to God's Word. His Word did not reveal the answer to "why", but it did reveal

the all knowing WHO!

God Stop Friday!

My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long, for I do not know the sum of them. I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. Psalm 71:15

My twin sis Patty is hosting God Stop Fridays over at Girlfriends in God...gotta get in on this one. We are going to be intentional in Savoring The Observable Presence of God! What a great way to live out Psalm 71:15....so lets make mention of His righteousness!

My God Stop......

I am a public school music teacher and I am teaching the Historical Periods of music in my General Music classes...4 periods a day. This week we have been covering the Baroque period of music and composers from that period. Thursday we got to George Frideric Handel and his great choral work "Messiah" written in 1741. We discussed the fact that the "Hallelujah Chorus" is the most popular choral work ever written and is still sung hundreds, if not thousands, of times each year. As part of a little "pop quiz," my students were to listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" and identify the musical texture of each section of the chorus (homophonic or polyphonic for any music students who might be out there). Each class had to listen to it at least 2 times (they're still trying to get the hang of this perceptive listening thing...). All of that to say....I spent my day listening to the "Hallelujah Chorus"! The reality and truth of the simple phrases of that chorus bombarded my aching heart and weary spirit......

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, the kingdoms of this world and of His Christ!

And He shall reign forever and ever!

King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Tears stung my eyes and I fought back tears in each class as I realized once again who my God is and what He was speaking to me. He reigns! He is in complete control. Only He knows what it takes to conform me into the image of His Son. He is at work in me and in the lives of my family and He loves us infinitely.....and I love Him...so much!

My current Heartsong to the Lord. You gotta hear this!

You Are Everything

by

Matthew West

I’m the one with two left feet

Standing on a lonely street

I can’t even walk a straight line

And every time You look at me, I’m spinning like an autumn leaf

Bound to hit bottom sometime.

Where would I be without Someone to save me?

Someone who won’t let me fall?

You are everything that I live for

Everything that I can’t believe is happening

You’re standing right in front of me

With arms wide open

All I know is every day is filled with hope

You are everything that I believe for

And I can’t help but breathe you in, breathe again

Feeling all this life within every single beat of my heart

I’m the one with big mistakes

Big regrets and bigger breaks

Than I ever care to confess.

Oh but, You’re the one who looks at me

And sees what I was meant to be

More than just a beautiful mess.

Where would I be without Someone to save me?

Someone who won’t let me fall?

You are everything that I live for

Everything that I can’t believe is happening

You’re standing right in front of me

With arms wide open

All I know is every day is filled with hope

You are everything that I believe for

And I can’t help but breathe you in, breathe again

Feeling all this life within every single beat of my heart

You’re everything good in my life

Everything honest and true

And all of those stars hanging up in the sky

Could never shine brighter than You....

You are everything that I live for

Everything that I can’t believe is happening

You’re standing right in front of me

With arms wide open

All I know is every day is filled with hope

You are everything that I believe for

And I can’t help but breathe you in, breathe again

Feeling all this life within

Every single beat of my heart

You are....You are....Jesus, You are.....

You are everything

I'm back......I think!

Oh my goodness.....has it been that long?! Does anyone remember me? Can I come back? What in the world has everyone been up to?

I've missed being here so much! Much has been going on with me and mine for the last 3 months which is the reason for my long absence. My family and I have been undergoing some serious spiritual warfare that has required every ounce of our time, faith, and energy and blogging has not been on the top of my "to do" list. I truly believe that the Enemy has asked to "sift us like wheat".....what encouragement there is in knowing that just as Jesus did for Peter (Luke 22:31-32), He is doing for us..........He is praying for us (Heb. 7:25)! We pray for endurance and for glory and honor to come to God and God alone during this time. And WHEN we get through this, we will "strengthen the brethern." I am walking in a very difficult season of life right now and would so appreciate the prayers of my "siestas." It is my heart's desire that the enemy not gain one inch of ground in my life or my loved one's. God IS our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble....He is all we have.....He is all we want........He is enough!

As I've said, I've missed all of you so much. My bloggity friends have always been such a blessing and encouragement and boy do I need encouragement right now! So I'm going visiting......See you soon!