More Gardening

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!

Johnny was blessed with a little brother

On May 31st, Johnny's family was blessed with another boy. (that's 4 boys now)His name is Matthew. He was 9 lb and 11 oz. mom and baby are healthy and well. This was pretty exciting for Johnny! He has had a great attitude through all that he is going through.

Children are Gifts

God is the creator and giver of life. Children are a blessing from God. They are a gift and God is counting on us as parents to nourish, protect and bring them up in the ways of our Lord.
We walk through this life and watch our children grow. As babies, just watching them sleep is amazing. They seem so peaceful and innocent. Seeing them smile, kick, hold things for the first time, their first words.... It's all so much fun! So many stages come and go. Before you know it they are talking, walking, playing, and with it comes teaching them no means no! If you are a parent, or take care of other people's children, you have a clear picture of all this.
I guess the most important thing I have learned is that children are gifts that I need to give right back to God. Ultimately they belong to Him. Sometimes it's hard to give them back to God. We always feel like we want to be in control of things ourselves.(or atleast those have often been my first instincts.) But really, if we come to the point where we say it's all yours God...Whatever you see best for the day we will do, they are in much better hands and so are we. We are not perfect parents but God is a perfect holy father. Who better then to keep watch over us and our children 24/7 !

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Jesus said, "let the little children come to me, and forbid them not, for of such are the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:14

Family Devotions

We have been going through Step into the Bible by Ruth Graham. We started to do family devotions first thing in the morning now...well right after breakfast. It seems like after beakfast works better because the kids are more ready to listen. This book has a story, bible verses to read and verses to memorize and questions to ask. Then we also have a time of prayer. I have noticed that it makes such a big difference in everyones day, and I really want to keep it up... I pray that we will. I am grateful that God has made this possible for us, so I don't want to take it for granted!

A Train Ride

Today we went on a train ride in Port Stanley with our homeschool group. The children were very excited about it! Even Kati-Lyn got all excited on the train, and I din't think she would even pay attention. It was a good experience for them.

http://www.pstr.on.ca/history.htm

I had to laugh at this picture. I noticed after that Art was holding Emily by her hair!

Kati-Lyn just kept waving bye.

I take a lot of pictures because I want the pictures to be a reminder to our children, of the speacial family times we have had.

Seek and you shall find

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' (Acts 17:24-28)


"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Be worried for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Matthew 11:28-

My baby is a year and 3 months!

She is growing up so fast!

Happy Birthday Mom-Grandma

This is my mom, holding my youngest sister. Today was her birthday. In this picture they are singing, Joyful, Joyful will the meeting be. Joyful it will be! I realized again today as I was watching her how much she means to me.She has endured so many things that seem impossible to bare. She does so much for the family. Her hearts desire is that all her children will live to serve and love Jesus. I know my mom well and know that she is praying for me, for my 7 sisters and 4 brothers. She is praying for her son in laws and daughter in laws. She is praying for her grand children. I don't want to take her for granted. I thank God for her and may He answer her prayers according to His will. She is a woman after God's own heart.

Love Is A Mother’s Gift

When God made mothers, He took great care

To fill their hearts with love so rare.

Their children are their greatest prize;

You can see the great love in your mother’s eyes.

Love, love is a mother’s gift

To their precious children, their hearts to lift.

Warm, tender and giving love

That grows them up healthy and happy.

Thank you, mother for all you give

To help me grow and to help me live.

I will love you forevermore,

My mother, my mom, whom I adore.

Love, love is a mother’s gift

To their precious children, their hearts to lift.

Warm, tender and giving love

That grows us up healthy and happy.

By Joanna Fuchs

On Good Ground?

Matthew 13
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

A Prayer

I wrote this poem before Jamie was born, on the day I found out he had a heart defect. We had lost a baby about 7 months earlier. Him and Jamie are 11 months apart.

Dear Lord, I am asking thee
don't take away what you've given me
I have grown to close to lose him now

to bare it again, I don't know how

He would be in the best of care, I agree

but all the pain and sorrow that would be

I am not strong enough to get by it again

For whatever is to come I will need your hand

I do not know what you have in store for me

But I want to put my faith in thee.

Just give me directions until I reach your gate

where sorrow is no more, love is only; no hate

This is my prayer tonight to you

All this I am sure you already knew

I'm thankful though you listened to all I said

To you I have let out all thought I've had

written January 15th, 1997

©Nancy Wall

Jamie's birthday celebration

We had some friends and family (well I guess they are all family, but also friends) come for supper. I had a very good evening. We had chicken, pork chops, burgers, hotdogs and salads for supper. (barbecued) Relaxed around a fire for a while, cousin Henry sang a few songs yet, kids played.... (you get the picture:) Blessed fellowship!

By now you can tell I like taking pictures, I'm sure!

Jamie's Birthday

That's my boy! 11 years old. He had a good day I think. Him and Anthony went fishing with their dad. We bought him a basketball, 2 t-shirts and that hat. Tomorrow a few friends are coming for barbecue.

I am so grateful that Jamie is doing so well! He too, was born with a heart defect, but is doing great now!! The day I found out about his heart, I wrote a poem, a prayer really asking God to let us keep him. God answered that prayer. I don't have enough time to type out the poem now, but maybe I will share it tomorrow if I get a chance.

Thank you Lord for your goodness and mercy! I praise you for you are an awesome God!

Our baby would have been eight...

Eight years ago yesterday our baby David was born. It's hard to believe that it has been 8 years! In this picture I had just bathed him and I remember how he watched me so closely! He had hypoplastic left heart and passed away on the 15th, 2 days later at midnight. The 15th which is tomorrow is also our other son (Jamie's) 11th birthday. We plan to celebrate that as a gift from God but will also remember everything that happened 8 years ago. He was a beautiful healthy looking full term baby!

If you are wondering what hypoplastic left heart is, here is a place you can learn about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoplastic_left_heart_syndrome

Johnny is doing well at the time. He is on chemo and radiation now. So far he is doing okay with that. He cannot be at home yet but is often at the Ronald McDonald place near the hospital. We do not know how things will turn out in the long run, but just have to trust in God for all things. Johnny did tell me he has accepted Jesus as his savior so I just continue to pray for them.

Today was pretty exciting around here! We had gotten a pretty good deal at Walmart on a swing set, and we finished putting it together today. It was more complicated then we first thought it would be, but also a lot of fun! At first Art thought he could manage without the instructions but soon changed his mind.

So with me reading instructions, Jamie being a good handy man and Art the tool man we got the task accomplished!

The other children patiently wait for the completion of the big job.

Eating some munchies and playing their own little games.

Untill finally the job is complete and there isn't anything left to do except try it out!


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

A Day Out

Saturday my sister Lisa and I took the kids to McDonalds and let them play there for a while. We got some pretty good pictures.

Don't these cousins look alike here?^


Well, That was fun!

Hi Aunty Lisa!

Ok guys, no speeding!

"Hey mom, could we move here?"

This is the life!

Can you tell who is peeking out?

And this is how a good aunt gets her nephew to want to go home!

And so we say our goodbyes!

Update on Johnny

Johnny did have his surgery on Thursday. The tumor was bleeding too much and they were only able to remove 20% of it. He still has bleeding in his head and they are draining the blood with a tube coming out of his head. He is not moving his right side at all so far. This could be because of the swelling in his head, noone is sure yet. Right now we just have to wait, noone knows the next step yet. That is the physical part of it.
Spiritually~ Parents really need prayer. May they see God for who he is.

Our nephew has a brain tumor!

A few weeks ago as 12 year old Johnny was getting ready to go with his parents to buy a birthday cake for him, he suddenly fell backwards and had a seizure. He was rushed to the hospital, but sent home shortly after being told he was fine.
His parents were not convinced that he was ok and he was different after that. One dr.decided to do a cat scan and found a tumor about the size of a golf ball near the memory part of his brain! He was again rushed to the hospital, put on medication and more test were done.
This was last Wednesday. Thursday morning it was decided that he could go home and come back after Easter. Surgery was set for Thursday.
By Sat. a day before Easter he got very sick, vomitting, headaches....and they took him back. he is still there on meds. and surgery will still be this coming Thursday as far as we all know now. It will be a long and risky surgery. They will only be able to remove part of the tumor by the sounds of things, and he will have kemo therapy yet.
Once they have removed it we will also find out if it is cancerous.
Please pray for Johnny. I will keep you all updated on his condition.
Thank you all!

Nancy

Winter Wonderland

We got so much snow this weekend! It was messy in a way but beautiful! I do however look forward to summer again! Things have been busy for me but a good busy I think. I don't even try blogging much because of our slow computer issues, which will change as soon as we get our tax refund, I hope!:) Jamie has been trying to do some research for a school project on the internet and it is pretty much impossible. So we need to do something about our dial up situation and get this thing cleaned out. Well I off to bed. Goodnight!

Praise the Lord for all He has done!

My Baby turned One!

Happy Birthday, Kati-Lyn!

One year old!

Update on Emily

Got Emily's problem figured out I think. The Dr said it is erythema multiforme which can even be a side affect from a cold. As long as her fever under control and her joints don't swell and become painful she will be fine, but to call him if that happened. The rash is not contagious....good thing!

health problem continues!

I couldn't get a very clear picture but this is what Emily's back now looks like. I am almost sure now that it is an allergic reaction to something. The only thing is we haven't used anything different then usual that I can think of. It gets better at times and then all of a sudden worste again. Is it possible that she would now all of a sudden would begin to be allergic to Honey Nut Cherios?
She doesn't really seem to be itchy though.

A Health Question

(click on picture to see larger image)

This morning our daughter started getting these weird red spots on her hands and feet and some on her leg. The inside of her hands and under her feet were very red too.It cleared up a bit during the day but now is worse again. She seemed ok though, (well not eating very well and a bit fussy at times)but now I was doing some research here and found that meningitis can have symptoms like this too. I'm waiting for my husband to get home from work now to see what he says. I would apreciate some help on this if anyone knows anything about it.

The Love of God

"Peace is not automatic. It is a gift of the grace of God. It comes when hearts are exposed to the love of Christ. But this always costs something. For the love of Christ was demonstrated through suffering and those who experience that love can never put it into practice without some cost."—Festo Kivengere

Who can describe the bond of God's love? Who is able to explain the majesty of its beauty? The height to which love leads is indescribable. … In love the master received us, Jesus Christ our Lord, in accordance with God's will gave his blood for us, and his flesh for our flesh, and his life for our lives."—Clement of Rome

Todays Thoughts

We received some news today that my cousins daughter in Mexico was killed last night. She was 14 years old. The last time I saw her was when she was 2 or 3. It really got me thinking about what is important! I look at my young daughters and I can't really imagine loosing them like that when they are 14! We don't know though when our life on earth will end or when someone we know will leave us. This is reality, it can happen to anyone at anytime. That is why I want to spend the time we have teaching our children about Jesus and praying for them that they will be servants of our Gracious, Loving, Justice Lord and Saviour. All that matters is eternity. Time here is so short compared to eternity! Treasures we lay up here will perish, but the treasures in heaven will last forever! (Something I need to remind myself of often!)

I have often wished, I could turn back time and redo some things, but you know what that isn't edifying the Lord at all. Instead I want to move forward and just serve Him where I am now! Thanks be to God for His mercy!

Muscle Daddy!

Art was trying to show the boys how strong he is! :) It was pretty funny!
Ok, the situation got a little lighter here, but the girls could not be left out you know!
This is what you call good times at our house! Hee hee!:0
A cheerful heart is good medicine

Fellowship So Sweet....

Right here in our own home. Children are such a blessing! I have enjoyed them so much the last while. Well, I always enjoyed them but for a while now I have really thought about how they are part of the fellowship God has for us. My little friends!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3).

A Poem Written By A Friend

A friend of mine wrote this poem for her mom on her own birthday. I thought it was so nice, I asked her if I could post it here. So In Loving Memory of a wonderful lady , who did a great job raising her daughter!

Many years ago, on this very day,

The doctor put me in your arms to stay.

A part of your life, from the start,

A part of your smile, part of your heart.

Even though you're in Heaven now,

Our Father above is showing me how

To live my life without you here;

Each and every memory I hold dear.

Mom, I want to thank you from my heart.

Without you, my life couldn't start.

Through thick and think, your love was there,

And even now, I feel you care.

Thank you , Mom, for who you were.

You left a huge imprint, for sure.

Thank you, Mom, for your heart;

From it, I will never part.

By Becky Oreilly

and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Lord I Need You

LORD, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU

TO GET ME THROUGH THIS DAY

YOU HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED ME

AND HELPED ME TO FIND A WAY

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN MY FORTRESS

THERE I CAN GO AND HIDE

WHEN THIS LIFE GETS TOO TOUGH

YOU'RE ALWAYS BY MY SIDE

YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN

EVERY TIME THAT I PRAY

AND I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE

EACH AND EVERYDAY

LORD I AM SO GRATEFUL

THAT YOU LOVE ME SO

AND I'LL ALWAYS PRAISE YOU

WHEREVER THAT I GO

Copyright: Jeffrey Paul Guest