Gran and DadDad visit

Join me in praying for my sister, Amy, please.

I am almost at a loss for words...my sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is only 31 years old. She has a husband and two children, ages 7 and 3. She is doing great at trying to keep her chin up, in her own words, she is 'too stubborn' for this to get her down. And the history in our family is cancer SURVIVORS, so that is encouraging. We don't yet know exactly what kind of cancer, next week she meets with the doctors to discuss the Plan. I pray for clarity and wisdom for all involved and I trust in my Sovereign Lord. So begins an occasion to rise to....

The Habit of Rising to the Occasion (My Utmost for His Highest)

. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18

Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10 ). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already ( Philippians 2:12 ). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—"By my God I can leap over a wall" ( Psalm 18:29 ). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . ." Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints(or excuses) in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others

Ten Things Tuesday...click here to link

I just thought I would check out my friend, Vicki's blog and she had participated in the Ten Things... this week. I thought, well...the day is over and I'll just skip this week, but after reading hers and then linking back to read the initiating mom's list I decided I had too many things to be thankful for to skip! So here it goes...
1. I am thankful for the pic in my previous post full of my precious children. This may have been my best Mother's Day yet! Thank you, Jesus.
2. I am thankful for my Moms in Touch mom friends and the powerful prayer time we have together, which knits our hearts at the same time!
3. I am thankful for my loving husband who, without a doubt, makes it easier to enjoy mothering and do a better job.
4. I am thankful for my mothers! Mom, Mom-in-law, Grandmas all around! In fact, how about this; I am thankful for all of the mothers in my life, all the women around me that are mothers. I learn from you!
5. I am thankful for my husband following in his parent's footsteps and serving the mommy breakfast in bed. And the sweet children climb up in bed with me and start asking for bites of whatever they have just served to me!!! :) It is a precious thing!
6. I am thankful for my washing machine (Jamie :). We were saying we both needed to do laundry and I said I wish we could do it together, I even said something about being down at the stream....you might be asking yourself as I am, What was she thinking?!?! Well, I had a weak moment in need of friendship and so...I lost my mind for a second! My friend Jamie did not though, she just kind of gave me this You are Crazy look and left pretty quickly after that! Which I do not blame her for! :)
7. I am thankful for my husband's sweet brothers who are great uncles to my children AND great brother in laws to me!
8. I am thankful that school is almost out and that my children got the precious teachers that they got, by God's soveriegnty! Amen! It was a good year.
9. I am thankful for generous friends who are letting me have the privilege of watching their sweet little baby girl two days a week. We had a fun day with her today, the first day!
10. And above all, I am thankful for my Jesus and His precious tender loving care of my heart!

The afore mentioned pic of Jacob...and what a shot! Ready to play ball!
And...Happy Mother's Day to me! We carry on a tradition of my husband's family to serve breakfast to the mother or the father on their day. So, here we are!

This may have been my best Mother's Day yet! I think because of God's gracious work in my heart. I am deeply peaceful and joyful about who I am as my children's mother, and therefore more able to enjoy it. I always wanted to be a mom, when everyone else was talking about what they would be "when they grew up", all I ever wanted was to have babies! However, along the road of life, I haven't always been peaceful and joyful, sometimes I was just darn tired! But at this place in my journey through life, I have more peace and joy than I have ever had before. All praise to God for His infinite grace, mercy, and faithfulness.

Thank You, Sweet Jesus, for making me a mother, and to these, most precious of children!

And I would be remiss if I didn't give credit to my husband! It must be difficult to be any kind of good mom without a kind and loving husband, which mine is. Thank God again.

Thank you, Hon, for the lovely flowers and the beautiful stained-glass poem! XO

May-day, May-day

Ha-ha, Nate took this of himself while no one knew! Sharing it with you!
Phoebe and Ellie befriended the first Lady...bug that we have seen this Spring.
We took pics of Miss Ladybug on their noses and they spent at least an hour with her yesterday!

And where is the fourth, you ask?? Well, Jacob is too busy these days to catch in a pic... but I will try, for you! Stay tuned!

The Arthur's

Ellie holding Aliese, and Aliese's mommy, Amber
Mac and Aliese
Daisy really wanted to get acquainted with the new little one
The boys
Here are our dear friends, Amber and Aaron Arthur!