Second Christmas

Landry's second Christmas was a success!  We stayed with my dad the night before Christmas Eve and had a bond fire made complete by popping fireworks!

They loved the photo blanket! 

Landry stole everyone's chocolate Santa! Not one Santa was safe!  Her eyes melt my heart!

Bryce got superman costumes and Aunt Han was a photo bomber! 

We celebrated my nieces birthday!  I just love this picture of her! 

My Aunts gave all nine granddaughters a scarf that belonged to my grandmother.  Hannah and I decided to "model" the scarves.  The joy receiving one of these brought each of us is too amazing to put into words!  My two Aunts really blessed us by sharing!  

Daddy's girls! It was a tough day, but Daddy assured us, we helped fill a hole in his heart!  All three girls have on Memommy's scarves. 

We opened gifts with my mom, stepdad, and brother.  My mom loved her photo book.  It was from Landry and many of the pictures were of the two of them.

I guess this xbox is a big deal!  He lit up when he opened it! I love my baby brother!

Landry and I met up with some of our best friends!

This is not all Landry got for Christmas, but it was all that we took a picture of ;0).  Let's be honest, Mom and Dad didn't get much for baby this year.  The Grandparents outdid themselves!  Granda-Clause came to see Landry this year.  Santa decided to refrain from buying and let the Grands spoil her.

This was by far one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Day.  We made a birthday cake for Jesus.  I made it by following my Grandmother's recipe.  I was able to tell Landry stories of her Grandmother while we made the cake.  Then we sang happy birthday to Jesus!

Merry Christmas to all! 

A Thank You

It is hard to believe it has been a week since my Grandmother (Memommy) passed away.  Christmas has come and gone.  Many of us felt an emptiness in our hearts that was left by a bitter-sweet memory.  We grieve our loss, but rejoice in knowing she is in a far better place.  The funeral was beautiful.  Her children did "Rise and call her blessed."  I was one of the children who was asked to read.  My Aunts wanted me to read my blog post titled, "Lord Willing."  They told me they read it to her about five minutes before she took her last breath.  I made  it through without melting down, only by the grace of God and prayers which were being sent up by friends and family

I want to thank every last one of the people who came to her funeral.  I want to thank the ones who sent flowers because they could not be there.  My heart melted seeing arrangements sent by my sweet friends and family.  When I looked out into the congregation I saw a body of believers from our home church.  My dear, sweet friends drove 45 minutes to support us on a difficult day.  I want to thank our worship leader and his wife for dropping everything so he could play the piano at my grandmother's funeral.  I want to thank each of you for allowing the love of Christ to shine so brightly!  One friend told me she was blessed to have been a part of the service.  Memommy wanted the gospel to go forth!  That is exactly what happened in those brief moments of her funeral.  Her oldest, living son preached it!   One son read it!  Her grandchildren wrote, read, and sang it!  The love of Christ was poured out on that day!

How can anyone keep going after losing someone they love and not having the hope of being reunited?  I am thankful for the "hope that does not disappoint."  I know the truth, "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning!"  In the words of my oldest cousin, "Memommy is singing like never before, BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL!"

Rest in peace beautiful lady.  I will forever be grateful for the hours you spent with me and the prayers poured out on my behalf.  I will always look at Landry and remember how hard you prayed for me to have a baby.  After the doctors said it would not happened, you said only God knows.  God is in control, not a doctor.  You had so many children and grandchildren and you never showed favoritism.  I appreciated that about you!  We all knew we were loved by you.  Our spouses knew it to.  Every time you saw Jen, Alan, etc. you would say, "You are mine and became mine when you married into this family."  You loved us all and we love you.  

Lord Willing

I heard those words spoken often as I was growing up.  My grandmother, who is now 86, would always say, "Lord willing."  I remember asking her, "Memommy will you be at my wedding one day," "Will you see my children?,"  "Will you this or that?"  Her response was always, "Lord willing!"  As a child I would get so upset when she made this statement.  I thought it meant she believed death was coming for her soon.  I loved (love) this woman with all my heart and did not want to think of losing her.  She had to be at my wedding, had to see my baby, had to…

As I grow older and become more acquainted with our Savior, I realize she wasn't saying these things to be morbid.  No, she knew something I would soon learn.  She knew the only reason we are allowed to take our next breath is if the Lord wills it.  As I type and tears stream down my face, she is in bed and unable to form many words.  It happened so quickly.  One minute we are at a family Christmas chatting and the next her words are jumbled.

This year for Christmas I gave her a photo book with written details of her life.  At the end of the book I asked her what legacy she would like to leave for her children and grandchildren.  She said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, because your heart and feelings will deceive you."  Memommy has told me often, she hopes to see all her children and grandchildren walk with the Lord.

She understood the definition of sanctification.  She knows praying the "sinners prayer" is not the end, but the beginning of a true relationship with God.  Memommy wants her children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and friends to be sanctified daily!  It is a process and anyone who knows her can see that even now, she is being sanctified.  She has a true relationship with God.  If we are truly saved, only then do we have the right to call Him Father.  I know if she could form these words she would say, "The Lord willing, each and every one of my children and grandchildren will know the Lord, have the right to call Him Father, and they will be sanctified on a daily basis."  Memommy is a child of God and she does not want her family to be nominal christians.  It is clear by the words she said, "your heart and feelings will deceive you" that she does not want us to be deceived into believing anything that is not true.  She wants us to rejoice with her in Heaven and not be decieved into believing we are "saved," if we are not.  She desires us to be in a true relationship with the one, true King.

Her legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters who know God and are not afraid to proclaim His good and faithful name.

Memommy's Legacy

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo books are the perfect gift for any occasion.

The Roar of a Lion

"Be of sober spirit, be on alert, your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
1 Peter 5:6-11.

I have been doing a bible study called, "Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand," by Kay Arthur.  It has been a great study for me.  It is taking me a while to get through, because it really makes you "dig in."  In one of the chapters Kay wrote, "I've heard when lions roar they throw their voice, which causes their prey to become confused and terrorized."  The comment stood out to me, because I have experienced this phenomena.  I haven't experienced it in the sense of a real fluffy lion roaring and making me tremble (not to say this wouldn't make me pass out in fear), but worse.  Satan is referred to as an adversary, prowling about like a roaring lion.  When he throws his condemning thoughts/voice it can be difficult to figure out where it is coming from.  At times, it is sugar coated so well that one may think what they are hearing is pure and right.  They may not even seem harmful, but be certain if the voice or thoughts are coming from the devil they are aimed to harm.

We are definitely living in a world that makes sin look more appealing than faithfulness to God.  We are living in a world where sin looks fun and harmless.  Our hearts and flesh may even crave these sins at times.  DISCERNMENT is so important!  It is especially important in the times we are living in.  It is important to watch out for people who believe and profess half-truths.  These half truths are so similar to truth that it can be almost impossible to detect.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James 2:19

I long to have a discerning spirit.  Truth from down right lies have gotten much easier to distinguish.    A discerning spirit that is able to distinguish truth from half truth can be more difficult.  I am aware that the "lion" will throw his voice and confuse me.  I am also aware that God will make the truth clear.  My hope is one day I will 110% know when I am being lied to, even when the lies are sugar coated so well that they seem impossible not to gravitate toward.