Just a few reasons why I love my mom!

My Young Mom
On her 61st birthday
My mom turns 61 tomorrow. When I was little I was afraid to think about her or my dad getting older. Grey hair scared me because I thought they were getting closer to death! Now I am 35 myself and am not scared anymore about my parents dying. My father went to Heaven when he was just 45 years old. I had 19 great years with him, and thankfully my mom is still here for me to love on! She has remarried a wonderful, God-fearing man and has joy in her life again! We have learned that death is not the end and that God can turn all things around for those that love and have faith in Him.

So on my mom's 61st birthday I wanted to share what makes her so special. She was an only child, but you'd never know it because she isn't spoiled or selfish in the least bit. In fact, I've never heard Mom judge anyone or say hateful things about someone else in my 35 years of knowing her! Wow. Who can say that about someone. She is incredible at holding her tongue, but not even thinking mean things either!

She looked so young when we were all kids. She used to go to cheerleader campy with us and people would think she was one of the cheerleaders. When we'd go to the mall, people would always think she was our sister instead of our mom! We used to used the same color hair dye (red penny) and people would think I got my red hair from her (even though she is not redheaded!). People also thought she was IRISH because of her beautiful green eyes!

When dad went to Heaven Mom was sad and lonely for 11 years. But we did lots of things fun together. In fact, she moved 300 miles to come live with me and my husband when I got pregnant and had my first child. She was so wonderful to have around. And now she still lives here with us in town with her great husband.

So here is why I love my mom....or at least a few of the reasons why I love her!

I love my mom because she doesn't judge me or anyone else.
I love my mom because she looks and acts young.
I love my mom because she has a facebook page, squidoo page, twitter page, and has a flip video camera and knows more about new technology than me.
I love my mom because she loves God and studies His Word.
I love my mom because she cooked me great meals when I was little like chicken and rice and chicken and dumplings.
I love my mom because she never has acted like she was better than anyone else.
I love my mom because she lost her dad when she was little and her mom years ago. : (
I love my mom because she has never asked for pity or acted weak.
I love my mom because she ate cookie dough and bad things for years but then changed her life dramatically and got healthy and now looks younger than ever!
I love my mom because she is a role model for me and someone I can look up to.
I love my mom because she drinks carrot juice every morning.
I love my mom because she does gallbladder cleanses with me just for fun because she is healthy and doesn't even need to.
I love my mom because she can drink or eat gross things and like them!
I love my mom because she is not a drama queen and does not think the world revolves around her.
I love my mom because she never tried to make her dreams our dreams but let each one of us be our own person!
I love my mom because she never told us about the mistakes we made parenting but loved us thorough all of them.
I love my mom because she gives me money when I want to go to Target and buy something not necessary.
I love my mom because she was good and faithful to my dad when he was dying and took such good care of him.
I love my mom because she is self-motivated and not lazy.
I love my mom because she thinks about and does what is important in life.
I love my mom because she doesn't try to dress or act like she is a teenager like some moms do.
I love my mom because she can sew.
I love my mom because she loves me unconditionally.
I love my mom because she has a pantry full of sunbutter and green tea.
I love my mom because she makes her own website about health just to help others!
I love my mom because she loves my husband and children.
I love my mom because she isn't vain.
I love my mom because she has a pretty face and little tiny hands.
I love my mom because she entertained my slumber party guests when I was little and slept the next day!
I love my mom because she believed in me as a child and still does!
I love my mom because she reads books fast!
I love my mom because she doesn't get grossed out by medical things. She is not a sissy!
I love my mom because she volunteers her time to counsel women about not having an abortion and fighting for the life of unborn children!
I love my mom because she doesn't ask for anything from anyone.
I love my mom because she is content where she is.
I love my mom because she is nice to her husband and makes him food.
I love my mom because she is deep and not shallow.
I love my mom because she simply exists!

I want to be more like my mom. I want to be the kind of mom that she was to me. I am so thankful to have a mom that I never fought with or was mean to. We have always gotten along and been close. I have always respected her and appreciated her. She is precious and lovely in all her ways. Inside and out.

Happy Birthday Mom! You are the best! Really!

from your little berd

Pure Religion

Today I am thinking about all the orphans in the world. Can you guess how many there are? In 2006 there were 12.4 million orphans in India, according to CSA (Catalysts for Social Action. Millions of orphans in Africa. Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 15 million children under 18 have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. Around 11.6 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of orphans in China are abandoned due to strict laws controlling the number of children each family can have. Over 4.5 million orphans in Iraq. According to the United Nations, UNICEF, and Save the Children:

• The number of orphans worldwide is estimated at 210 million, rapidly increasing due to the AIDS epidemic, natural disasters, low world health standards, immense poverty, and food shortages made worse now by our global financial collapse. Millions more everywhere....all over the world.

from world of orphans:

The Problem

The number of children in the world that have lost their mother or father, are parentless, or have been abandoned…now exceeds 143 million. This absolutely staggering number is almost equivalent to one-half of the total population of the United States. Can you imagine if one out of every two Americans was a child living on the streets, living in absolute hopelessness and despair?

Chronic disease, bloodshed, horrific natural disasters, severe poverty, famine, unsanitary water sources, restrictive population controls, and societal devaluation of female children, have all contributed to this global tragedy of monumental proportions.



In the past hour…

1,625 children were forced to live on the streets by the death or abuse of an adult

1,667 children under the age of five died from malnutrition and vaccine-preventable diseases

115 children became prostitutes

66 children under 15 were infected with HIV

257 children were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS



Most children are under the age of fifteen and are…

Sleeping on concrete beds and rancid garbage piles every night – streets, sewers, dumps

Scavenging amongst human waste and excreta for rotting morsels and scraps to eat

Huffing glue and other substances in order to numb the cold, hunger, pain…and shame

Prostituting themselves for basic food and shelter

Trafficked and sold into sexual bondage, even at five years old and younger (see Sexual Exploitation)

Abused and brutalized by sexual predators, local gangs, corrupt police officers, and slum lords

Victimized by HIV/AIDS-infected men who believe that sleeping with young virgins can cure the disease

Recruited into lives of thievery, smuggling and drug dealing

Abducted to serve as child soldiers or the sex slaves of soldiers

Exploited as child laborers or slaves in sweatshops

Executed by local businessmen and officials who view them as a dirty pests interfering with trade and commerce

Sacrificed in occult/witchcraft rituals

Robbed of childhoods; Robbed of self esteem; Robbed of innocence;

Robbed of hope


What should we do? What can we do? We can adopt a child of our own! Just think how many orphans lives could be changed by bringing them in an instant FAMILY! One day they have no one, no home. The next day, they have YOU! We can PRAY. Real fervent intercession for them that touches the heart of God. We can GIVE. Maybe you cannot adopt....but you can give. Just think if every Christian financially supported adoption and orphan outreaches!!!

We even have some friends at our church that started this outreach you could give to: http://www.orphanshield.com/

Something to consider....something worth considering........

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

World Orphans
http://www.worldorphans.org/about/faith.htm

The ABBA fund blog-
http://abbafund.wordpress.com/about/

America World
http://www.awaa.org/whoweare/

My Gift, My Husband! Happy Birthday!

It is 12:09 a.m. and while Husband sleeps, I am thinking about how much I love him. It is his birthday today. And tomorrow we get to go to Disney World. I know he is extra happy!

All my life, I waited for the one. I have met many beautiful, wonderful people in my life, but I knew that I would just know when the one came along that I was to marry. Those of you that know us well know that God brought us together suddenly. In fact, just a month before we began dating I had only ever considered Daniel like a brother.....a LITTLE brother at that!!

When God's timing came, suddenly we were in love...hopelessly devoted in love. I can still remember calling my sisters and Mom to tell them that Daniel was the one and that we would marry. It was all so surreal, yet so natural. And before the year was up, we were married....together forever, and already 12 years!

I knew Daniel was a sweet and pure hearted guy when I married him, but I had no idea what a gift God had given me in him! I am so blessed, beyond words even now that I try to write. Chantel says that we all never knew just how sweet Daniel is until Rob came along. He is a little Daniel through and through and so precious and gentle hearted.

So on my sweet husband's birthday I want to say a few things about him.

I love the way he loves God and reads his Bible and prays in the early morning.

I love the way he gravitates toward the weaker person and helps them along.

I love the way he folds his dirty clothes and puts them back in his suitcase.

I love the way he washes the kids faces when he bathes them at night.

I love the way he never complains as he diligently works on his computer long hours.

I love the way he naturally likes things that are pure.

I love the way he doesn't obsess about football or television shows.

I love the way he honors others.

I love the way he reads the Bible to the kids every night.

I love the way he loves to go to Eureka Springs just because it's cozy.

I love the way he is sentimental and makes up for how I am not.

I love the way he buys at least 2 new pair of cargo shorts every season.

I love the way he hugs and kisses me all the time.

I love the way he is not afraid to say he's wrong.

I love the way he is transparent around me and says funny things I think but don't say.

I love the way he prays out loud throughout the day.

I love the way he looks in jeans.

I love the way he takes longer showers than I do just to relax.

I love the way he never complains about what he doesn't have.

I love the way he doesn't like or desire Hollywood or secular things.

I love the way he smiles.

I love the way he looks as he gets older.

I love the way he holds his wrist like an artist when he talks.

I love the way he loves family.

I love the way he gives generously to missionaries.

I love the way he invests in people's lives.

I love the way he designs.

I love the way he looks in a baseball cap.

I love the way he dances.

I love the way he laughs.

I love the way he knows about American and World History.

I love the way he respects Pastor Billy Joe and Sharon.

I love the way he raises his hands as far as he can to worship God without reservation.

I love the way he writes.

I love the way he gets up in the morning happy.

I love the way he walks Ms. Rice all the way home everytime she visits us.

I love the way he plays with our kids.

I love the way he takes care of what he has.

I love the way he loves bananas.

I love the way he is not bound by tradition when it needs to be let go.

I love the way he believes in adoption.


and I could go on and on and on. I love him so much. I just want to be a better wifey for him every day.

Thank you God for my husband, my gift. Thanks Husband, for all you are. I know you have many more years ahead of you in this lifetime, but I know that God is pleased with you. I sure am!

http://eternallypink.blogspot.com/

Signature of Divine...the song you are hearing right now.

Cathedrals have tried in vain
To show the image of your face.
But we are, by your design,
The signature of divine.

We'll always sing your name.
Forever and today.

Yahweh, Yahweh...
Great is your glory when you go before me
Oh, we sing...
Holy, Holy...
Your ways are lovely. So high above me.
Yahweh

The fortunes of kings and queens
Are wasted chasing what we've seen.
Cause we are, by your reprieve,
The beauty framed by your suffering.

We'll always sing your name.
Forever and today.

Yahweh, Yahweh...
Great is your glory when you go before me
Oh, we sing...
Holy, Holy...
Your ways are lovely. So high above me.
Yahweh

Take me, and pull me through.
Cause I can't move without you.
I won't leave you alone, you say.
It will be okay.

This song by Need To Breathe blesses me!

My little pianist!

My sweet little Phoebe has been taking piano lessons for 5 months now. She had her first festival, in which she played for a judge and she did perfect. She has played Little Shooting Star so much I think even Rob could play it by now! I always wished I had learned to play but I never wanted to force it on my children. She really really loves it. And she can sit down at the piano and play something she has heard before. I'll come in the room and ask her who taught the song to her and she'll say, "No One!"

I took piano lessons for about 5 months when I graduated high school. All I can remember is how to play "The Entertainer." My family laughs because that's all I can play. Now i've taught it to Phoebe. So I've passed down my legacy! I am counting on Phoebe now teaching me how to play!

ROB....my sweet, sweet Rob!

Our little Rob says the funniest things......even more so than PG and Johnny. I've started keeping a notebook of the funny things he says. Here's the latest. Yesterday he came in the kitchen as soon as he got up and noticed that Johnny had left two of his markers out overnight without the caps on.

"Johnny is never ever again allowed to use my markers again. Not even when God comes to pick us up!!! He can never never again use them here on earth. Buuuuut...... he can use them in Heaven cause I know nobody leaves marker tops off in Heaven....right Mommy?"