Triumph in Trials

I haven't said  much about anything going on around here the last months. For the most part I felt I just needed to listen and not speak and then at times I could have shared many things that were in my heart but didn't seem to have the right words. Since Lily has been born I have felt .... maybe speechless is the right word. Not that I stopped talking but the things that were going on deep inside I did not have the right words for.  Now I believe it's time I give thanks openly and really share what God has done. 
I let you know a few months ago that I had a normal ultrasound and things were just going much better. One of the things I didn't talk about was that during my pregnancy I was also having some issues with my heart. So I was no longer allowed to be in complete midwife care and so many things just didn't go the way "I" had planned. Not going into details with that but I just want to say now God answered prayers all the way through. There were things He wanted to talk to me about through these months. I thought many times about not making it through these things, what if my children were left without a mom? One night I had a very brief but clear vision (unless it was a dream while awake but I do know I ws not sleeping) in my room and though I couldn't figure out what it meant I felt something big was going to happen. I felt like I had gotten a glimpse of the spiritual world and maybe that was where I was going soon. I still don't know exactly why I saw this  but thinking back to that moment, it was very calm, very peaceful and maybe it was just  meant to assure me. I do know I wanted to see more. It was only an appetizer to what lays beyond what we see with our eyes. ( In sharing this I might be taking a risk on being called a nut  lol)  This is part of what I just didn't have the right words for.
Anyway, moving on I was suppose to be on heart medication through this pregnancy. At first Dr. seemed pretty set on that. I did go through a time where I was afraid not to because of how I felt. It didn't last long though. Not only were my ultrasounds cleared up and the baby looking normal I also started to feel normal again. I was on meds for maybe 2 weeks and dropped them. I got my energy back and even irregular heart beats I had at times stopped. Had a heart echo done again and no major cause for concern this time.  I felt like a hopeless case through part of this pregnancy but with God things are never hopeless even when we feel that way. He took care of everything. I now have this little miracle He is trusting us with once more and I also have my health. So I better be thankful and remind myself of these things always!
I never did forget the possibility of having a sick baby. We live in a world right now where things like that are a part of life and there are a lot of things that might happen that are painful but no matter which way things do go, I know our heavenly Father will carry us through it if we allow Him to pick us up and do so.  Everytime I doubted and feared , He slowly and gently walked me through it. He allowed me to honestly talk to him and tell him how I feel even when I knew my feelings were in the wrong and by His Spirit always took me back to a place of rest, security and love!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is GOOD; for His loving kindness is everlasting (Psalms 107:1).

Much to Give Thanks For!

 As I already shared with some of you the other day, I had the ultrasound and things did look better than last time. Though it wasn't all normal  yet, the doctor didn't seem nearly as concerned now and we just left with a much better feeling. We still won't know the outcome of things, but whoever does? Getting better news I believe is God's way of meeting our needs for this time.  He provided our needs in a more than one way that day!
 Going to London so often gets expensive. Even just parking was  $10.00 again and then there is always gas yet. This was one of those times where we were short on money but hoped what we had would be enough. as we were driving Art all of a suddenly sees an envelope with our name on it and found $100.00 inside with a very sweet note! I was amazed at the way God had provided beyond what I could have hoped for! Enough for parking, gas for the whole week, and a bite to eat. (which I desperately needed after sitting at the hospital for 4 hours!) May God bless the givers for that!  The couple who left it for us, (she)had a drive test appointment the same day and just (texted me) asked if I would pray that God would help her with that. I prayed that God would help her to not be nervous through it and that the person taking her would also be merciful :) I am pleased to report that she passed her test and she said she had not felt nervous like last time and also the lady had been very relaxed about everything hardly marking anything down!  God answers prayers in all kinds of ways!
 I've been very tired for the rest of this week and somedays just can't seem to do what I think I need to do, but I am so very thankful! It all continues to work out! I'm thankful for family and friends; for all the prayers! So thankful for our kids.. they continue to amaze me with their willingness to help out. And so very thankful for Art, who is going through these things too but has been very supportive to me and caring!  He has been spending like all his time with us or at work and checks in on us during his breaks from work often now and it means a lot! 

Happy Thanksgiving

I don't always realize how much I have to be thankful for everyday. God is with us and cares for us... That alone is reason to be thankful, no matter what the circumstances. As I am writing, I realize how many prayers God has answered in my life. I need to remember where I was just a few years back yet and what God has done since then. Many times I was broken and my faith seemed so weak . I believed in Him though and He heard. God answered and took over, when I let go and allowed Him do the work.

I want to continue to rely on Him for all things and serve Him. Everyday is a new day and each day I must let go and let Him.

I thank God for being so faithful and loving us.

An Important Job

I had an important task today. I spent the day preparing for our special guest. I wanted it to be clean, comfortable and smell nice. With things more organized, it is easier to serve others and saves time, so that we have more time for quality time with those that come here.
So that is what I set out to do today. After all if Jesus is going to be here I want to do a good job with the work I do for Him, and make this place as enjoyable and comfortable for Him as I can. You might be thinking that I must be talking about something deeper than house cleaning now, but no I am not. I'm talking about cleaning my house for Jesus. Doing my work for the Lord. I am excited that I get the privilege to do these things for Him.
Most importantly though , I am excited that the first thing I get to do is just sit at His feet and listen to Him and Learn.

"...Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily ,as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord , that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. The One Whom you are actually serving is the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3: 23-24

Learning from Others

God put something on my heart today and I thought maybe I should write it down right now while it is fresh in my mind. It has to do with the older women teaching the younger women as it says in the bible.
Titus2:3-5
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
I am grateful for those verses. I have had a few great older women in my life to teach me much in different areas. From some I have been taught much about the word of God, from some about being a wife and raising children. (My mom for one seems to have a special touch with our children when they are not feeling well...or sometimes maybe just need that soothing from grandma.) Having ladies to turn to has been a great inspiration for me!
So then why get offended or annoyed when an older lady with more experience in an area tries to help us in an area. It seems that often people do not want to accept help or advice from someone else. Dare I say... that maybe it is pride in our own hearts..when we believe we know best.
God has called these older women to do just that, to help the younger...so why refuse help or feel upset about such things? It's taking away from what God has asked of woman.
I keep putting myself in the younger woman category, I know!. Well the truth is I still have much to learn from older woman(and well I am young) At the same time I guess there are areas where I am not THAT young and need to be willing to help others as well. In fact I think almost our whole life is like that, where we live, learn and pass it on.
We just have to swollow our pride, be willing to learn each day, and then be willing to teach.

Fast Growing Weeds

A negative thought is like a fast growing vine or more like an ugly weed. It very quickly spreads into many areas, and this is what I have done these last few weeks. It started with me feeling like I couldn’t keep up with everything that was going on. Felt like there was just too much to take care of. I could go into all the details and come up with a bunch of reasons why I felt like this, but I’m not going to do that, because the fact is God’s grace is always sufficient and somewhere in there, this was my own fault, and God had a better way for me then what I was taking. With negative thinking, it’s funny what it can do… A little self pity and suddenly you have a huge unwanted weed!
So I’m thinking, this is all too much, then I start thinking it’s not fair! Oh, AND then wait a minute…My husband should do this and that and the this and maybe this…..(oh,I could give him a long to do list ) Do you see how this could grow into bitterness towards him and well anyone else who isn’t doing things according to MY list. I know! As I’m writing, I’m thinking what kind of a woman would be like that…Oh ya me. Well, this weed started to go into other areas as well. I started to think well it’s not like anyone else cares either. The only reason people talk to me is because, I always make the start. You see how one thing led to another? I think I was beginning to believe some lies here and being ungrateful for God’s many blessings.
Well, I needed to get down on my knees and ask God for forgiveness for my attitude and not being thankful in all things. I needed to let Art (Hubby) know that I had been wrong and ask him to forgive me. God changed my thoughts and feelings as soon as I repented.
Then my eyes were opened again to all the things I needed to thank God for. Art goes to work in an over heated paint booth everyday for his family, he is always the one to clean our van, yesterday he cleaned up all th junk in our basement, he cleaned the pool for the kids.(and he does all these things without me asking him to) I started to feel bad because I saw he was doing way more then I deserve. The greatest blessing of all is he often reads and prays with the kids now. He is always telling me he loves me and makes me feel like I’m worth so much to him. God has done so much in both our lives! I know! How could I ever complain! It’s embarrassing to think about it now!
Then as for other people go, I have received a number of calls and an email this week from friends just checking in to see if Kati-Lyn is okay now (she was sick) I have a mom who is always there and a dad whom I talk to more now then ever. Many sisters and sister -in- laws who do care. Also thankful for my prayer sister I have now who also really brightened my day. Thank s to the people who pray for me even though I don’t always know it So all around I just needed to be thankful and apologize for not weeding this garden.
I am so grateful for the mercy and forgiveness and grace God has for us if we as!

O what a wonderful, wonderful day- day I will never forget;
After I’d wondered in darkness away, Jesus my savior I met!

starting up

Yep, We are the walls! There are 6 of us now. Man, wife, 2 boys and 2 girls. We have been through many trials but God has blessed us beyond belief! He has given us what money can't buy! I will come back and tell you a little more about each one of us another time. With time I will also add some pictures. Now I must move on to other things!