Everyday Blessings...

Tomorrow, this gentle giant will be home... Cannot wait to get big bear hugs from Will (the hippy) and from Case. Praying for blessings on your last day in Peru boys. Praying also for safety and a pleasant flight home. Then...in a few weeks we will welcome Thor home, seen here with one of our favorite people in the world. Caleb Henderson. Camp Blue Haven has blessed this boy so much this summer. So, we are very ready to go somewhere like this and have hours to talk about the adventures of the summer. Something so wonderful about the prospect of all members of our little family under one roof having lots of time to reflect and talk and laugh and enjoy each other's company. God You are good. I thank you ahead of time!

It's a Switchfoot lyrics kind of morning. I am restless I am restless I am restless I'm looking for you I am restless I run like the ocean to find your shore I'm looking for you Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face! Your face,  Lord , I will seek. Why would I wait til I die to come alive? I'm not waiting for the afterlife... Cause everyday the world is made  A chance to change But I feel the same  And I wonder  Why would I wait till I die to come alive?  I'm ready now  I'm not waiting for the afterlife  I still believe we could live forever  You and I we begin forever now  Forever now  Forever  Switchfoot-Afterlife My heart says to live now. No regrets. No looking back and wishing I had lived. Jesus gives life. Today. Psalm 27 The  Lord  is my light  and my salvation whom shall I fear? The  Lord  is the stronghold  of...

See the sweet picture above under my blog title? Well- this one below was usually the shot we got. How it really was... So fun.  This is another how it really is photo... We had to empty our boys four bedroom college house that we own for a family to rent it for the summer. Being the frugal people that we are, renting a storage unit just was not in the cards. So-we look like hoarders and we feel like hoarders and I just might pull my hair out soon. This is the room that my computer is in. No, you can't SEE my computer. Yes, I feel claustrophobic. Sorry to be whinny. Love our boys and their wonderful roommates but I am counting down the days until all of this is moved back into their house. Help! If you need a sleepover- (that's a bed under there) -ha! How it really is- I want to go back here... It seems that God is blessing us to be able to see this again really soon. We are coming for you lovely beach. Can't wait for the sand between my toes. ...

I am over and over amazed at the beautiful clouds. I was that little girl that gazed for long periods of time at the clouds looking for faces or animals. Now, I marvel at the colors and depth. Well, and still a few faces or animals at times. God is amazing and gracious. Summertime is going, going and nearly gone. I have loved it but am a little glad. I miss this boy and really need a big six foot six bear hug from him- and his big brother. Speaking of his big bro, here he is in Peru with some sweet little friends. We can't wait to hear the stories about 10 wonderful weeks in Peru. Life changing i think. Just for laughs... Gentle giant number 2- hope you are keeping a journal. I want to hear about this picture. Don't forget any details. That long road trip in August- can't wait to talk. :) This scripture jumped out at me this morning. There is no other God. We have been studying and thinking about the idols in our lives. How worship is not som...

Today... Enjoying a hot Texas Saturday. Praying for these sweet people. Our oldest gentle giant and Case and Alex in Peru. They are nearing the end of their 10 week adventure. In the past few weeks they have built and given over 50 families clean drinking water in Peru. What a blessing to all involved. Praying for this kind, gentle giant too. Pictured here with our sweet friend Randi. Camp counseling for the summer is hard and tiring but wonderful. Meanwhile- we are here, watching the flowers smile, working and enjoying praying for our loved ones. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,  who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,   “Your God reigns!” Blessings on your Saturday!

Good morning. We are not perfect. No couples are perfect. The one thing I know it this: God has a perfect way to order our lives. God first, my husband second and myself last. When married people have this order right, it works. Another thing I know is- When we fall out of love with God it makes it easier to fall out of love with each other. Don't be stupid and go into comfortable danger or into neutral. Don't be lulled into letting Satan tear at the fabric of your love for Him or your spouse. See the battle, see the big picture. The Destroyer likes to try to trip us up where we think we cannot be affected. Spend time with God first. Daily time. Spirit filled, thankful time. Stay in love with God. Stay in love with the person you love. It's not simple, but it's simple. 1 Peter 5: 8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the fa...

Fireworks were pretty amazing...  But- this was more enjoyable. We strolled though a place called Antique Rose Emporium in Independence, Texas. Very appropriate place to be on the 4th of July. Don't you think? A rain shower had just blown through and the temperature was in the seventy's. So pleasant and quiet and peaceful... I pictured lots of laughter and wedding fun out here. I am sure that happens a lot in this happy place.  Love...  Flowers everywhere... Isn't this beautiful?  Make a wish... We did a lot of talking about our nation yesterday as I am sure everyone did. So much is troubling and concerning right now. This verse gives peace to me. No matter what our nation turns into and trouble we have there is this absolute truth. We have such a message of hope and peace to share. We ended up out at Washington on the Brazos yesterday. Independence Hall marks the place where the Texas Declaration of Independence was si...

Father, God, please bless your people who live to glorify You. Please bless and protect the men and women that fight for this country and protect it. Please bless this country to love You and to live by Your absolute truth. Thank you that we live in a place that we can worship you freely and openly. I pray it will always be so. Father, thank you for Jesus.

For the 23rd summer in a row we have attended the Red River Family Encampment. A few weeks ago we drove curvy roads up through Mora, NM toward Red River. The Land of Enchantment. Indeed. We have enjoyed this special event in June each summer. We watched all of our kids grow up year after year as we enjoyed the fellowship and reunion and blessing of growing in God's word through the Red River Family Encampment. What a time it has been. Such great memories of a week each summer filled with cool temperatures, birthdays, lots of wrestling and fishing and throwing footballs and Frisbees. Enjoying the cowboy shootout and encampment bible classes. Eating lots of ice cream and riding four person bikes up and down the street. Drinking coffee and visiting about bible verses and life early in the mornings with my mama and Debra, Jan and Sid.  Seven boys sleeping in one room and remembering loving hearing the laughte...