my morning thoughts....

Just Avenlea and I are up....and I sit here....watching the gentle, quiet business that goes on around me....and I think to myself...."I have such a beautiful life!" I know that all of my other babies are sound asleep in their beds dreaming of butterflies and frogs...maybe even a fish on their line...my dear husband is probably snoring away behind the closed bedroom door...(I am pretty sure he is dreaming of a fish on his line ;o)
 I can't help but think...our days of having Andrew here in our home with us is coming to a quick and all too soon end. And, although this brings me a deep sadness in the depths of my heart, I can still see the Lord's gracious hand in this beautiful picture that is unfolding before my eyes and I am at peace with it. I am so excited to see what is ahead for him. I have NO doubt that the Lord has GREAT things in store for him...and us! When my oldest left home (prematurely), I didn't have this peace. I had little comfort that it was God's Will. And EVERY day since...has had it's own amout, small or great, of pain and sorrow over the choices that have been made, over the path that has been taken. You see, Andrew....is called of the Lord. He hears the Lord's sweet voice and he follows. He waits patiently for the doors to open...he doesn't knock them all down to see which one he wants to go through. He waits...and waits....until he knows that the Lord has opened it for him before he walks through. I can't wait to see which door opens next. This is such a blessing!
A bird is on the window, seeking her babies' breakfast, I bet....Avenlea sits with what once was a bowl of grapes...only one remains... as she swirls it around and around in that tiny little bowl. You can see her brain just burning with curiousity. I hear the gentle sound of the fan in the hall. I see the first sunlight peeping through the trees. I can hear the faint barking of the dogs...probably running of those pesky wild hogs that are tearing up our back pasture (I hope). The roosters are crowing...some of the young ones sound as if the are choking instead of crowing. Birds are singing their song of the new morning. I hear the washing machine in it's last spin before it alerts me that it is time to hang out the laundry. Avenlea's sweet gentle voice is singing her favorite song "A..B...C...D...E...F....G......". I look at the clock and realize that I MUST get breakfast going for the crew...and disrupt their peaceful dreams...the morning chores are calling. Such a beautiful life! And there goes the washer ;o)
I hope YOU take time to listen......
My prayer for you this day:
 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

 

This was taken a few weeks ago....there was a rainbow around the sun....so neat :o)

NTS: change with grace not grief

WELL! I know it has been FAR too long since I posted here....but, can I just make my excuses and say that there have been SO many things changing in our home that I haven't had the time...NO TIME!!!  I won't go into all of the boring details....I will simply say that I am THANKFUL that the Lord loves me enough to remind me of the things that are MOST important while we are passing through this life. I am thankful for family time....I know that is ALL we do....Family Time....but It is such a precious comodity these busy days. I am so thankful for the husband that the Lord has blessed me with...He is such a strong leader and so stable and firm, honest and true! I am thankful for my boys who are becoming men. I am thankful for the Lord's guiding hand, and how He ALWAYS seems to show us the way that we must go....even if it is a bit painful at times. I am thankful for ALL of my daughters...who are becoming young ladies right before my very eyes. I am thankful for the little toddler, next to the baby who has become a little girl so quickly that I can barely rememeber when she was a baby. I am thankful for the baby (who really isn't much of a baby anymore) that seems to have a 1000 word vocabulary and does a GREAT job of keeping up with the rest of the girls. She MUST be treated like them...not like a baby! It does a number on this heart of mine....I will be honest. Having to spend time away from the gang every day has opened my eyes to see the spots that seem to get overlooked some times...it has made me more aware of where I am failing as a wife, a mother, a grandmother....i DO NOT LIKE to find myself falling short....and the Lord knows this well. I am trying to be more flexible....more open to change...more loving...more serving. Things are EVER changing around here, THAT is for certain!

 She was SO excited about that Teddy bear cake :o)

 I see more man than boy these days

 

Time surly does fly

 there IS a young lady in there.....somewhere ;o)

 She is such a colorful child!

 ALWAYS a mess!!!

 One PROUD daddy....one SWEET lil' boy

 Anaiah takes life and dresses it up...it is her gift :o)

Andrew and his maskerpiece....for his final formal...

he created this tree mask....it was FANTASTIC!

 

 

Life is about growth...about change....and how we handle that growth and change

is of the UTMOST importance!!!! I amtrying to handle it with GRACE and not grief :o)