They Do Make Me Smile

Well....it has been six years since we all have been together. Most were there at the beginning, but almost 20 years later....we are still connected...talked as if we had just spoken yesterday.....laughed until our sides hurt....praised the Lord for husbands and the 18 children...did you catch that? EIGHTEEN children between us...
three hours of catch up was too short...plans in place
to see each other soon....Chris has offered one of their famous "Thanksgiving in July"....why you ask? Because she will be eight years cancer free this summer! We have walked through a lot in 20 years....hoping the Lord comes soon, but praising Him for the friends who walk this journey together.

baby gavin could still really use some prayer....go here for the update.

"spiritual life is the life in the Spirit, or more accurately, the life of the Spirit in us. It is this spiritual life that enables us to live with a new mind in a new time. Once we have understood this, the meaning of prayer becomes clear. It is the expression of the life of the Holy Spirit in us. Prayer is not what is done by us, but rather what is done by the Holy Spirit in us. to the Corinthians Paul writes, "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 cor 12:3),, and to the romans he says, "likewise the Spirit helps us in our wekness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (rom 8:26-27). prayer is the work of the Holy Spirit.

This indicates that prayer as a discipline of patience is the human effort to allow the Holy Spirit to do re-creating work in us. This discipline involves many things. it involves the constant choice not to run from the present moment in the naive hope that salvation will appear around the next corner. it involves the ongoing struggle to prevent our minds and hearts from becoming cluttered with the many distractions that clamor for our attention."

henri nouwen

The Weekend

the weekend started with a belated valentine party...

but these....

with some of these...

and a little bit of this.....brought out many smiles.

a quick turn around headed us over to the valley for this...

....in honor of baby Jax

the two first time grandma's to be....oh yeah, and the momma to be!

the papa was home in North Carolina, but sent roses...to honor baby Jax and the momma...

This little one (click here) needs some serious prayer.....

for more in depth information go to his dad's blog here or his mom's amazing blog here....and here


i don't believe there is greater joy brought to the Lord then when we lift up another in prayer...

one day he will fit his father's coat....

just a bit of heaven....oh, so goooood! (thanks janet)

Rain and Sun

homework's done....bubble fun...

rainy day fun....
it's an original.....45 years old....do you know its name?

We spent the afternoon and early evening at a friends home today. It was a housewarming/birthday celebration. A special housewarming because this friends home caught on fire halloween night. They have been out of the home since and moved back in yesterday and partied today! Boxes everywhere, but their home is always filled with lots of love, people and good food (can you say costco chocolate cake covered with chopped up campfire mints! Yes. I only made it through a couple of bites, but it was worth it). Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne in Quiet Man on the big TV….

It was good to catch up with friends, laugh (a lot) and usher a family back into their home.

Friends...

i've been thinking about friends recently....

this pic is one of my daughter's best friends....
they have so many good and well documented times together...

it makes me think of Proverbs 17:17...."A friend loves at all times...."

who are the special ones in your life? call them today and tell them you do love at all times...