Our son and grandson visited for a few days last month. We were thrilled to see the progress our little miracle man is making, and marveled at how God has taken a 1 lb. 9 oz. preemie and grown him into a four year old mischief maker. GLORY!
One of our favorite things from the visit was learning what JJ calls his daddy. He has names for all of the special people in his life. Momma, Nana, Granddaddy, Gram, and Rev, but when it comes to his daddy . . . he simply calls him, “mine.”
Mine!
There is nothing more precious or personal than being called “mine.”
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“Lord, you know this has been a long season of waiting. It’s hard to look ahead, not knowing what is on the horizon for us. Where are we going to live? What job(s) would you have us do? It’s been such a long season of not knowing how/when our needs will be met.”
We’ve been living in limbo for many months as we await God’s direction on new ministry opportunities/jobs, a new home, and possibly new schools, new friends, new church family, new…everything!
I continued to pray that God would provide in a tangible way as I drove home. I noticed the boys’ VBS CD in the player in the car.
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My head spins, temples pound as I hear that three-letter word for the umpteenth time:
“Why?!?”
Before becoming a parent, I vowed to always respond honestly. I was never going to say “Because I said so.” No, I was going to take the time to reply wholeheartedly before they started looking for why’s answer elsewhere.
Keep in mind, this was before I was truly introduced to the age of four and fully grasped what children were capable of.
And I gave this day my very best shot. I went round and round, answering the same question multiple ways. My words few, my answers as honest as I thought he was capable of understanding.
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Summer is just about over and the kiddos will begin school again in about five weeks. I will have a 4th grader attending public school, a 7th grader who I will be homeschooling while working full-time (called and a little crazy), and a “home-schooled with a tutor” senior who will finish high school at the end of the first quarter (just a few months behind his class).
As a full-time working mom with a husband on unemployment, summer did not afford us a vacation to “get away from it all”. Life kept going, just as it was before summer. School, work, “training them up in the way they should go”.
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I am a plant killer.
It’s true. Home Depot should have a wanted poster up in the garden center with my picture on it – reward money being offered for my capture. My husband keeps encouraging me to buy plastic greenery, but I love real plants. And so the cycle of buy them, kill them, buy them, kill them continues.
Imagine my joy when I walked into my kitchen one day and noticed a tiny splash of purple. My African violet that had not bloomed in years finally had one happy cluster of petals. I smiled and thanked the Lord. But as soon as the thank you for the unexpected flower passed my lips, an unexpected question popped into my mind.
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Written on
July 31, 2012 by
Kris in
Blog
But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Joshua 7:1
Quizically, they’re looking at me from across the chipped up table and I’m starting to get uncomfortable. My throat’s tightening up I keep swallowing forcing the moan that’s building back down. I’ve read this story before, but this reaction that’s usurping me–this is a first.
We’re reading the story of Joshua leading the Israelites into battle and they have just lost the battle at Ai.
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Let me begin by telling you that I have battled depression . . . both situational and chemical/hormonal. I’ve been depressed at times when the people around me understood, and at times when they had no idea what to do or how to help.
If you are dealing with depression know that I am praying for you as I write this.
Something I have learned from my struggle with depression:
I want to be happy!
If you want to be happy too . . . I have some suggestions for you:
1. Get help – Talk to your doctor, talk to a counselor, confide in someone you trust.
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“If we have learned anything over the last 22 years it’s this: God is able to do the impossible! We have seen it time and time again.” ~Tom and Allie Harvey, Safari Zoological Park.
I like to hear and share faith stories—stories of miracles and of God’s provision. Tom and Allie Harvey are living a story of faith through their Safari Zoological Park in Caney, Kansas.
This zoo is different from any other I’ve been to. Tom, Allie and their staff interact with the animals, including tigers, wolves, bears, and lemurs, just to name a few. Personal stories invite visitors into the lives of the animals, making you feel like you know them.
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