Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for....

1. A sweet time of fellowship and learning at the Restore My Joy Ladies Conference

2. Fun times with our church family at our Super Bowl Party

3. Better health

4. Rejoicing together with friends over spiritual victories

5. New faces at church

6. A financial error that was corrected and made right in our favor

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

1. A great start to Ladies Bible study Wednesday night. We are doing Charles Stanley's 30 Life Principles and we had a great kick-off night!

2. The routine of September...school, church activities, Taekwondo, Piano...all tidy and in their place on the calendar...makes me feel a little more organized without picking having to clean anything! LOL!

3. God's voice...and that after we listen we too can hear His Words....which strangely enough echo those found in His Word! I am thankful that He gives His wisdom liberally...cause lately it seems we can't get enough of it fast enough.

4. The little things like an old refrigerator....an old dryer and an old car. All that remind me how God has provided for us over the years with little to no repairs needed on any of them.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm reminding myself of the need to be thankful in all things....not just the easy, predictable but the mundane, the supernatural and the unexpected...in the ugly, in the unpleasant and in the beauty and broken.


“Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.”

― A.W. Tozer




“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community




“Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.”

― Thomas Goodwin




“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”

― Harry A. Ironside




"I want to see beauty. In the ugly, in the sink, in the suffering, in the daily, in all the days before I die, the moments before I sleep."

— Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are)

The Gifts....Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for these gifts:

1. For a glorious day at church Sunday...complete with gathered prayer for a sweet family in our church who suffered loss last week.

2. For a husband who will discipline his children.

3. For rain..twice!

4. For the opportunity to share....and receive kind words.

5. For a chat with my sister in law on the phone.

6. For a group of people who had a cancer fundraiser for one of my former student's sister, who has leukemia. Pray for Phoebe.

7. For three VBS's that are preparing to descend upon our town next week. Make Jesus Known!

8. For God's will revealed.

9. For 20 years celebrated...of imperfect marriage.

10. For a teenage boy...who is a social media guru...who will monitor our church feeds for us...proving again that God uses all our gifts, abilities and talents if we will allow Him to!

Thanks, God...for all these gifts and more.

What are you thankful for this week?

The Gifts...Thankful Thursday

For this moment....

1. I am thankful for a week to catch up on a little rest. I have felt wiped out....possibly from the marathon cleaning of the past couple of weeks. Now, I feel like I can let my body rest without feeling the mom guilt. (which we can talk about at another time)

2. I am thankful that, in Texas, I can grow tomatoes through to November. Which means that although I didn't get them planted until last week, I'll have them in time to make some yummy salsa. Planted peppers too.

3. I am thankful for my Sunset Candle Co. candle that makes my house smell soooo good. 

4. I am thankful for the beautiful flowers blooming in my yard. Moon lilies, lantana, lipstick ladies. God's handiwork all around me.

5. I'm thankful God hears our prayers and our dreams and sometimes He allows those to collide. He's doing that for me and I'm just about as blessed as I could ever imagine. 

What are you thankful for this week? 

The Gifts....Thankful Thursday

A few things that I'm especially thankful for this week:

1. I found a $100 Lowe's gift card I had misplaced over 2 years ago. Ironic that I found it just a few days after I started deep cleaning my house and needed to buy little things like the blind wand that broke off the wood blinds 2 years ago, the toilet paper holder thing-a-ma-jig that holds the tp between the actual holder (that was specific wasn't it?), a shoe organizer, lightbulbs and a plastic shelving unit for my laundry room? I think not.

2. For the 10 potatoes that I dug up out of my garden. I know, I know....not a big yield....but still, after all they survived to just be with us today...2 late winter freezes, being mowed down not once, not twice...but three times...well, I think they deserve a standing ovation!

3. For the $25 pool that is making the summer more fun for the kids. Sure it's a glorified kiddie pool but it's already paid for itself by providing countless hours of fun for them. And it's cool and wet!

4. For the encouragement of God's Word. I've been revisiting some of my favorite Psalms in preparation for substitute teaching in Sunday School and I'm more convinced than ever of God's goodness, faithfulness and overwhelming protection over my life.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday and One Thousand Gifts

Thanks God...

- For your protection over Savannah while she was at camp last week and for wonderful counselors who took such good care of her!

- For some recent girlfriend time that nourished my heart.

- For an unexpected blessing of a meal paid for while we were out eating recently....and not just our meal, but the meal of the people we were eating with...there were 10 of us altogether!

- For missionaries who share ideas for ministry.

- For golden opportunities to love.

- For your undeniable presence in our church.

- For tears that flow freely out of worship.

- For real fellowship that lingers more than an hour after church is over.

- For hard conversation made easier because you reside in the lives the of hearer and talker

- For music that touches the soul no matter the mood.

- For dreamers and visioneers and hope-filled people who see potential.

- For prayer time with believers who WANT to pray and WANT to hear from you.

- For altars full with heartbroken people who desire to be fixed with the Truth of God's Word.

- For using the broken, the out of sorts, the shy, the misfits and the unsure...along with those who seemingly have it all together...God truly does make Beautiful Things.

The last seven months have been a roller coaster of emotion and hope and doubt and trust and unrest within me. Over the last month its been a relief to have so many unknowns settled for my little family and, in a way, our church. Being in limbo is never fun (or at least not for me). It requires such trust in the God who sees past today. I'm changed because of limbo. My faith and trust in God is strengthened and my hope is secure, not because of ANYTHING I did, but because over and over God was faithful to give hope and purpose to the waiting and the in between.

What's God doing in your life...your family...your church?

When God has something else in mind...

If I'm being totally honest I need to tell you that my life has turned out nothing like I ever imagined it would be.

A few of my childhood/teen dreams included...marrying a missionary or a youth pastor....having a slew of kids...like 6-8, at some point I thought maybe I'd like to work in a home for wayward youth, or maybe working in interior design....you see...I was all over the place. Isn't that how we are when we're young? We dream uninhibited dreams and hope and pray they come true.

Somewhere along the line something happens and reality sets in. Sometimes it comes in the form of a life event, sometimes you fall in love, sometimes someone crushes your dreams and you never recover. And sometimes...God has something else in mind.

I have no idea when it happened, but as I look back over the short 39 years God has given me, I'm very humbled to have experienced the plan He had in mind. My plan would have been pale in comparison to what He's given me. It's not always been a bed of roses. I've been hurt, misunderstood, made mistakes, done my own thing a time or two and even been mad at His plan. BUT, some of the greatest growth that I've experienced in my life is a result of God's plan being carried out in my life.

I'm thankful for His individualized care for me and for His special "Gina Plan" for my life.

Multitudes on Mondays #32-46

I'm listing the recent everyday blessings that God has poured out on me. There's no way to list them all, remember them all, cherish them all ....because we cannot fathom the earthly everyday abundance we have. This is my attempt to gather and meditate on the goodness of God for a few minutes ....praying that this becomes a lifestyle of intentional thankfulness and gratitude to God and others for the blessings on my life.

#32 - A funeral where the gospel was preached

#33- A smell of lasagna and friendship wafting through the air on a hot Tuesday night

#34- Time for a drive in the country with family....dreaming

#35- A date with my son to see Mr. Popper's Penguins

#36- Prayer at the altar with a mom

#37- The privilege of prayer after the altar.

#38- A clean house

#39- Breakfast for dinner ... and peanut butter on pancakes

#40- Savannah's study of the book of Daniel

#41- Friends who picked up the tab

#42- Teachers who love kids and are faithful each Sunday to tell them about Jesus

#43- A husband who plays wii, bingo, takes out the trash and preaches God's Word....and loves me.

#44- A sister in law who takes her niece to Splash Kingdom

#45- A funny card

#46- A summer ensemble

Don't you have a multitude of blessings that need to be proclaimed? Leave a comment, write them down or tell someone today.....God loves to hear our thanksgivings!

One Thousand Gifts

I'm beginning a challenge that is prompted by reading Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. The art of gratitude is beautifully displayed in Ann's masterpiece writing and has prompted me to live a more grateful life....looking for everyday gifts in the midst of our heartaches, our schedules, our burdens, our fears. So in no particular order or amount, I plan to journal one by one my (at least) one thousand gifts. Want to join me? I think you'll be glad you did!

1. A nourished people sorting food for hungry people.

2. Generosity modeled in deed

3. Laughter and silliness with friends

4. "I love you" and sleepy hugs

5. Spring showers

6. Summer break

7. Plastic rodeo toys and time with the boy

8. Toenail polish and time with the girl

9. Forgotten flowers planted last year now blooming this year

10. Cringing sounds from the piano that will one day bring beautiful music

11. Chinese food, Ronnie Milsap and ice cream....double date night with friends.

Thankful Thursday

A few things I am thankful for this week:

1. God's relationship with me. His faithfulness is forever. His presence is real and the unfathomable depth of His love leaves me speechless.

2. The Mission's tutoring program has been so enjoyable to be a part of. The kids have even asked if it could go on until the end of the school year. Several teachers have been really appreciative and overall, I think the tutors have really gained something from it.

3. Taxes are done- enough said!

4. The spring- I planted 6 dozen flowers in my yard and they look like they are going to all make it! Love the new life that is so apparent during this season.

5. A friends new baby. Samuel is just a cute one!!!

Click on comment below and share what you are thankful for this Thursday.

Reflections on Good Friday

I've often wondered how Christians can call such a horrible day in our faith history "good". Oh, I understand it was because of Jesus death that mankind received a good and perfect gift, but somehow I think it might also ease or at least diminish what Christ did for us 72 hours before the resurrection. Below is something that Bruce has shared in a sermon before. Warning...it's graphic, but unlike Hollywood, will give you a more clear picture of what happened on the cross that day. May we never forget the high price that was paid.

A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion
by Dr. C. Truman Davis

About a decade ago, reading Jim Bishop's The Day Christ Died, I realized that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted -- that I had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred to me that, though a physician, I didn't even know the actual immediate cause of death. The Gospel writers don't help us much on this point, because crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary. So we have only the concise words of the Evangelists: "Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified -- and they crucified Him."

I have no competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the physiological and anatomical aspects of our Lord's passonate some detail. What did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture?

This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.

Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world -- to Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors (Livy, Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient literature.

For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top in what we commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our Lord's day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T. In this cross the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus was crucified.

Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution.

Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus' words to Thomas, "Observe my hands." Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.

A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim's crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.

But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, "And being in Agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground."

Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just doesn't happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have produced marked weakness and possible shock.

After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate's action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate. It was in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion.

There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews.

Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes.

The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus' shoulders, back, and legs. At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped.

The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed.

In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance.

The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed.

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" is nailed in place.

The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain -- the nails in the writs are putting pressure on the median nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.

At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen. It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:

The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

The second, to the penitent thief, "Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise."

The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John -- the beloved Apostle -- he said, "Behold thy mother." Then, looking to His mother Mary, "Woman behold thy son."

The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?"

Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins...A terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.

One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.

Jesus gasps His fifth cry, "I thirst."

One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: "My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death."

A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn't take any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, "It is finished."

His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.

With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, "Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit."

The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary.

Apparently to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John reports: "And immediately there came out blood and water." That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse -- including the medical evidence -- of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. How grateful we can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God toward man -- at once the miracle of the atonement (at one ment) and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning.

Thankful Thursday

I'm posting 5 things every Thursday that I am thankful for:

1. A God who knows, understand and accepts me...no strings attached.

2. A new restaurant nearby...Braums! Ice cream and frozen treats galore!

3. A husband who follows God.

4. The Internet...allows me to be a "virtual" assistant across the miles.

5. Spring. New life.

Tribute to a Father

Today is the anniversary of my dad's death. It's been 18 years. I've now been without him as many years as I had him. Seems strange since those memories are so close to my heart. I've done a little reflecting over the last few years, about what I really miss the most by not having him here on earth. Here's a list:

1. I miss that he will never meet Bruce (my husband)
2. I miss that my kids will never know what an awesome man he was
3. I miss that my mom will not grow old with the man she gave her heart to in 1968
4. I miss that he will never be here to give me advice on how to raise Tucker...since he obviously knew something about raising a strong willed boy!--if you know my brother, you don't have to ask how!
5. I miss the thoughtful things he did, like bringing home a blockbuster movie and candy bars for family movie night.
6. I miss how devoted he was. I think he video taped every basketball game my brother, sister and I ever played...and we all played about 5 years....3 different teams.
7. I miss how he protected me from people and places that might bring me harm.
8. I miss how he kissed my mom at the front door everyday before he left for work.
9. I miss his hilarious sense of fashion...he was color blind!
10. I miss his dedication to things eternal...people, the church, the Word of God.

He was an amazing man. His son is the greatest example of who he was. My brother walks, talks and acts like him. Sometimes it almost feels like he's around when I am around him. What a feeling that is!

He's missed. Those who knew him- loved him, those who loved him...were blessed.

Gardening...Almost time!!!!

The Dallas Planting Manual has becoming a gardening Bible for me during these winter months. On New Years Day I made my annual trip to the bookstore and bought this wonderful book. In my mind I thought it would be handy to have for my own personal garden this summer. Little did I know God had such awesome wonderful plans ahead. The Mission was given almost an acre of land to garden on shortly after the New Year. So these past few weeks have been spent getting the soil ready, the rock out and this week, new dirt brought in. And this manual...has become very important in helping me make some big decisions.

I love the book because it breaks down what you need to do each month...including winter months. So instead of waiting until March or April and being stressed about what needs to be done, you can be planning and readying yourself, your plans and your soil. I'm a little behind, but thankfully I have lots of volunteers to help me!

It's going to be a great garden. The amount of people who will be helped by this food will be tremendous, but more than that the relationships that will be developed will last beyond gardening season. Christians will come together and share time with non-Christians, the worker will help the invalid, home bound widow, the young will help the old, the old will teach the young, and on and on.

If you're reading this and have faith in the God who is bigger than anything we can imagine, please pray. Pray that God does something more than we could ever imagine with this property. To Him be all the glory.

Over-Reacting

Drama...I hate it! Recently my 6yo daughter asked me what did overacting mean. I told her something like..."it's when you make a big deal over something that isn't really a big deal". The answer seemed to suffice, and then later in the day when she over-reacted, I pointed it out and told her..."that's what it means to over-react".

Well today...I think I might have over-reacted. Some news I received didn't sit very well with me and I did it..I over-reacted. I threw away everything I KNOW for sure about God and trust and faith...and I over-reacted. I got stressed, my blood pressure went up, I got a little hot under the collar, and even shed a few tears. It wasn't pretty.

The thing is...I trust God. I have faith that He is in control over everything. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He holds my days in His hand. He's invested. He's interested. He's concerned. Yet, when things happen that I don't have any control over, I somehow forget all that for just a moment. And in that moment...something happens. I over-react...I let the enemy come in and steal all the joy for that moment...I lose sight of the absolutes of His nature...HIS joy, HIS peace and HIS sovereignty.

So...what did I do? Fortunately it didn't take long for me to get it together and realize who was stirring the pot. I hit my knees...asked forgiveness...received it and then...asked God for direction, wisdom and some peace. And guess what? I got it.

Thank you Lord, for loving me...in spite of me. If I am going to over-react...let it be about something YOU do!

Surprise...It's Octuplets

Can you imagine hearing those words? Surprise...it's octuplets! Those words were heard by the proud California parents of 8 little tiny lives this morning. WOW! The news reports on the 20,000 plus diapers that they will go through in just one year! Think about all that potty training (see yesterday's post) SHOOT ME NOW~!

Anyway they were saying the weights of these tiny babies this morning on TV and it brought back such a flood of emotions. If you know our Savannah story...you'll probably want to stop reading now, but for those of you new to me...we have our own little miracle story.

On August 26, 2002 after a weekend of bed rest, swelling and overall just not feeling quite right, I was put into the hospital. I was 27 weeks pregnant with Savannah and not doing good. My kidneys were failing, my blood pressure had skyrocketed and a host of other serious complications. After being catheterized, fasting, eating tons of ice, getting shots to boost Savannah's lung development in the womb and more. The Dr. said, "In the morning, we will either decide to keep you in the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy (3 months) or we will deliver the baby. Secretly, he had a hallway conversation with Bruce regarding my danger signs, and complications and had told him to prepare for the worst...and I do mean the worst. Losing me...losing the baby....brain damage, blindness and more could be complications for Savannah.

It was a horrible night, but despite the tossing and turning, I felt better the next day and felt sure the Dr's would just keep me in the hospital. No such luck. God had different things scheduled on my calendar that day.

The Dr. wasn't nearly as impressed as I though he would be and promptly told me they'd be prepping me for surgery (C-section). I was horrified....I had never been prepped for anything before! They wheeled me into the OR and began strapping my hands down and told me to count backwards from 100 while they placed this mask over my face. I remember 99 and that's it! I had NO idea they were completely putting me under to give birth! At 10:27, August 27,2002, Savannah was born, weighing in at 2 lbs, 6 oz. 13 inches long. There was a brief yell...(according to Bruce) and then our babystinson was taken away to the Neonatal ICU.

I woke up in the recovery room. In shock...wondering pretty much what had happened. They had me drugged up with magnesium sulfate and more to counteract all the things going wrong with my body. I wasn't coherent for at least 24 hours. I remember people from our church coming and going...but everything was very clouded.

The next afternoon came and I got to see Savannah. They wheeled me down in a wheelchair. Everything in my body was screaming...you've just had a baby by C Section! We scrubbed in from fingertip to elbow, put on sterilized gowns and walked to where our little baby was lying.

Her small crib was covered in saran wrap, to keep her body temp up. We couldn't touch her. She was on a ventilator, struggling to keep her oxygen levels up. She was red, dry skinned and things were visibly underdeveloped. I remember wanting to touch her, hold her, love on her. But there was none of that. Not for a long time.

The good news is...after 90 days in the NICU we were able to come home... Weighing 4 pounds 10 ounces. We survived numerous infections, ventilators, PIC lines, spinal taps, feeding tubes. babystinson (my email address) became Savannah Stinson. She slowly gained weight. After six weeks we finally got to hold her. We put between 80-100 miles on our car everyday for the entire duration of her stay...you do the math.
We are all good now...She's 6...and healthy as a horse on most days!

As I watched the coverage this morning of these pint sized miracles that God has given this family in CA, I can only identify with two things...the weight of the children...and the heavy weight of responsibility all of us who are raising and loving children feel.

If you've endured this long post....let me hear about your little miracles!

List of thanks continued:

As promised, I continue my list of gratitudes:

16. Yummy food
17. Grandparents...near and far
18. Afternoon naps
19. Piano concerts
20. Salvation

Add yours too...comment below!

Savannah's Gratitude List

Make a Smilebox greeting

More to be thankful for

Continuing on with my gratitude list for this week:

11. The Mission Gunter...a dream come true
12. My housekeeper
13. My computer
14. Mommy daughter dates with Savannah
15. Bruce's mac and cheese

Don't forget to give thanks on your own or post a comment below!