Samantha's Day

It really was a perfect day. The last day of March, cool, breezy and sunny. The look of anticipation and excitement and yes a little anxiety, in the bride's face as she and all the girls were getting ready. I was amazed how calm and serene she was. But why should I be? This was the day she dreamed of, saved for, longed for. The day she'll be joined to the man she will journey through life with. Sam was our kids' babysitter until Alex got old enough. Now she is a dear friend and a woman of God my girls will always look up to. She's another woman whom I am glad will speak into my daughters' lives. She gave Alex her key on her necklace that is the holy reminder of her saving herself for marriage as Sam and BJ did. The key to her heart which is guarded, nurtured and protected until the day she gives it to a deserving man.
Emma was the smiling face at the guest book, I was playing Sam's Jane Austen favorites on the piano, Lizzy came in as one of the flower girls and Alex was a junior bridesmaid (in the back, center). To see Sam's face, with that sweet, holy hunger for her man, was a memorable moment that I pray for my girls. What an honor for them to be part of that holy day. A perfect day. It really was.

Emma Beatrix's Favorite Books

My name is Emma Beatrix and I'm 9. One of my favorite books is the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I like it because I like the way the character of each of the 3 children comes out when they get into Narnia. I think the way they act can relate to other families. I also think it's cool that C.S.Lewis was a Christian and you don't really know it in the books. In the story Edmond sins and there is a price to be paid. Aslan sacrifices himself just like Jesus did. My favorite character is Lucy. I like her because she is very brave, never lies, and she is always willing to help her friends and family.


Another book I just read is Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson. What I liked reading about her is that she was so confident even though she was blind and deaf. She was determined to speak even though she had never spoken before. She wanted to go to Harvard but ended up at Radcliffe and neither school was for blind students. I didn't understand how her mother loved her so much but yet wouldn't let Annie Sullivan teach her. It was amazing to me that she could tell which trees were which and knew the names of them, by feeling them. When Helen was 6, she could tell by feeling the floor, who was coming. That's when her teacher first came. She eventually wanted to do everything other people did and more. She even became a good horseback rider. A famous quote of hers is "the best and most beautiful things in the world, can't be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."

In the Palm of His Hand,

Emma Beatrix

Happy Birthday Dad

• 69 years young
• loves and plays with his grandkids
• continually searches God's Word
• faithfully teaches
• enjoys good coffee
• appreciates music
• diligently cares for himself and mom
• challenges all those who will listen
• cares for his church family
• digs into languages and meanings
• will drop what he's doing to help
• builds and fixes and smiles at the future.

This is my dad and there is none other who plays this role in my life, and does it so well.
All that God knew we needed. Love you Dad.

Happy Birthday Alex

Flash back to 1990...Ectopic pregnancy, married 3 years, I'm 29 and considered infertile, "I'm sorry, you aren't going to be able to have children." God proved the establishment wrong once again! Psalm 127:3 "Children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 128 has been called the Builder's Psalm because to the Israelites, the home was an opportunity to pursue the holy task of "building" sons and daughters. In Hebrew the word "banah" is to build: "ben" is son and "bat" is daughter. We as parents were meant to "build" our sons and daughters. Think of Deut 6:6 where we are to teach them diligently, talking of His commands when we sit in our house, walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise up. Every part of my day is teaching and training these Gifts from God. Building them up for eternity with Him.
Flash forward to April 13, 2007...and 5 children later. I don't want to waste one moment with them. I want to make each moment count. To reach their heart, to love them as Christ would, to show them Christ in everyday living. But it's a reassurance that He is near, with me each step of the way and He has the best plan. Because I fail. A lot! Without His grace, I would have given up long ago!
So Alexandra Joy came into our lives 14 years ago today. And her parents had a special glimpse of God's grace, that He would prove wrong the wisdom of the world and bless them with this daughter of Joy! May we give her back, fit for His purposes, a little every day.

Not Wrong, Just Different

We are coming up on our 20th anniversary and I can't believe how much I still have to learn about this amazing man I'm going through life with! Our home fellowship is doing the Love and Respect DVD series and I am so grateful we can share with other couples. The 'not wrong, just different' concept really opened my eyes. God made us different from each other and I am consistently glad. What if he was the spender, the talker, the emotional one? Our lives would look so different. We would never save, listen to each other or have a grip on reality, just to name a few differences. I'm always finding more.
Alexandra wanted to call her dad today (she is 14 on Friday). I asked her why and she said she needed help in Algebra. Well, I could help her! She politely said, Mom, you have a completely different way of working the problems. I was shocked, after getting over being hurt! Really? To me, there was just one way,my way! Oh, how humbling home schooling can be.
Thank You Father, for Your creativity in forming us. You know every thing about me and You know what is best for me. I rest in You, knowing I'm in Your more than capable hands. Thank You for this man that is continually amazing me with his talents, insight and love. I pray we grow old together. Your Daughter

Grace Upon Grace

Spring is here and Summer's a comin' and what a great time to start my new Blog. You've heard it said that everyone is doin' it, so I have to too! Well, I know that's not the way it should be, but hey, I think it will be fun. Actually, I was just reading Romans 12:2 and it says "don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you." I have been even thinking about the world's ways when it comes to trying to lose weight, what to teach my children, how to throw a really great party! He has a much better plan for all my days then I do and He heaps them with grace upon grace upon grace!

"He gives me grace upon grace
All of His fullness is mine
And someday I will share
All of His glory divine
Unworthy servant am I
That He should embrace
All of my sin and my guilt
With His grace upon grace"
Clay Clarkson 2007

Thanks for starting with me! ST