More hope chest pictures

Early Birthday Fun !

Tomorrow, Anastasia will turn 16. She is growing up so fast. Ted
and I wanted to do something special for this important birthday. So, we decided to have a hope chest made for her. The chest is solid cherry wood. The inside is cedar wood. The best part of the chest is the inscription. We were able to have Psalm 71:5 engraved on the inside of the lid. I was able to put baby clothing inside, as well as the baby tee-shirt they gave her at the hospital. The Anastasia movie came out when Anastasia was 4. She loved having a pair of pajamas that had her name on them. I saved them for her. I also found a sweater that had Anastasia on the label. That was the name of the clothing line. I loved dressing her in smocked dresses. I gave most of her clothes away, but I did save some 3-6 month dresses. It is my prayer for her that she would always seek Christ first, as she fills up the hope chest with treasures for the future.

Backpack buddies

Today we had our first mission's project of the new school year. Wral ( Mix 101.5) was sponsoring the Interfaith food shuttle program that helps feed children on the weekend. The school identifies which children need assistance with meals for the weekend. Many of these kids would only receive free lunches during school hours. They would go without a meal on the weekend. That is where this program steps in. On Friday, they are given a backpack that is filled with food which they can eat on Saturday & Sunday. On Monday morning, they bring the backpack back to school and it is filled with food for the next week. The ratio is that 1 out of 5 kids will go without food on the weekends if they do not have the help of the Interfaith food shuttle. It's hard to think that we have such a huge need to feed hungry children in our country. Caleb and I went to Walmart, where we picked up some backpacks and food items. The Interfaith food shuttle truck was parked at Crabtree Valley Mall to receive donations. They let Caleb climb up into the truck to see all the donations they had received. I forgot to bring my camera, so I didn't get any pictures of our outing. I pray that as Caleb sees the need to reach out in the name of Jesus, he will learn how to show compassion to others and be truly thankful for how blessed we are.

First day of school

It's that time of year again. Our summer has come to an end and it is time to focus our attention on education. All learning does not stop in the summer, but we do have much less structure and all of the subjects are not covered. Caleb loves to read and memorize God's word. He can often be found lying on the floor with a book in his hands. Anastasia started back to school on Monday, so that was also Caleb's first day of second grade. It is hard to believe that he is that old. Time goes by much too quickly. It is my prayer for my children that we would raise them to have "a different spirit" then the world. In Numbers we read,"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it."(Numbers 14:24) This is Caleb's verse. There are so many thing that vie for our childrens attention. As parents, we need to teach them to love God and serve Him with all of their hearts. Our children should look and sound differently then the world's teachings. It is a hard battle that can not be won overnight. Much prayer is needed and a constant reliance on the true source of life changing power, Jesus Christ. Our young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Churches don't need more programs. It's clear that they are not working. We need parents who are willing to love God, no matter what the cost. To live out their daily lives in such a way that it is pleasing to the Lord and our children want to obey with happy hearts. There is always blessing associated with obedience. Likewise, sin is always dealt with by a holy God. It is an overwhelming task to raise children for God's glory. It can not be done without His help. May we strive this school year, to grow in our faith and understanding of God's word. I pray for opportunities to minister to the hurting world around us. Lord, strengthen and uphold us with your righteous right hand.

Anniversary flowers

Every year on our anniversary, Ted sends me a dozen red roses. This years' roses are beautiful! I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13

What God has joined together.....

So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." It was 27 years ago today, at noon, that Ted and I became husband and wife. The time has flown by. God has blessed our lives with four beautiful children and now a daughter-in -law. We have experienced answered prayer and daily blessings of His grace and mercy to us. We have moved eight times over the years. God has allowed us to be in our current home for over 8 years! We are thankful for our church family and the ministry that we have.
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

³ My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

⁴ For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

⁷ The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

⁸ He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

⁹ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

¹² For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

¹³ O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

¹⁴ that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

¹⁶ The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion.

¹⁷ The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

¹⁹ Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

²⁰ Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Psalm 9

Our new addition..almost

So, in two days Ted and I will celebrate 27 years of marriage. It is always a challenge for Ted to think of creative gift ideas. He knows I love cats. Last April, I had to put my seal point kitty, Rapunzel, to sleep. She was such a sweet cat. I wasn't ready to get a new kitty. Tonight we drove to Wendell. Rags2Riches is the Ragdoll Cattery where we got our first two kitties.(eleven years ago) After spending time with all the kittens, I chose this little guy. Now, I need to name him. He is still too young to leave his mom. I've got three weeks to prepare for our new arrival. I am very excited! I really don't deserve Ted. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful husband who has always spoiled me rotten. He surprised me for our 20th wedding anniversary with a flame point kitty. (Dante) I pray we have many more years of service together.

even more Angus fun.....future chef.....

I forgot to mention that after we finished our meal at the Angus Barn, our waiter asked Caleb if he would go back in the kitchen to prepare our desserts. Well Caleb was so excited. I wanted to go back with him to take pictures, but this was his moment to shine without Mom around. He put desserts on the plates and sprinkled powder sugar. He told us how he stayed right by our waiter at the dessert island in the kitchen. When he came back to our table he was smiling from ear to ear. What a special treat for Caleb!

Angus fun

Last Friday night, we were able to go to the Angus Barn to celebrate Ted's twenty five years with IBM. The actual date was last November, but we were not able to plan it before Jonathan & Jillian left for California. So, since they were in town, we decided to try to do it now. Tara & Jamie joined us for a wonderful meal. We all had goodie boxes to take home. The Lord has been faithful to our family for so many year. He has always provided for our family and answered our prayers above and beyond what we could imagine. God has given Ted a ministry among his coworkers. As Christians in the work place, we need to be willing to minister to a hurting world. Many of these folks would never set foot in a church. As Robert Murray M'Cheyne said, " the Christian is a person who makes it easy to believe in God." May we be those Christians.