Spring Soiree

 A couple weeks ago... I hosted a Spring Soiree Garden Party for the teenage girls in our church congregation. These girls have amazing hearts and a zeal for doing what it right according to HIM.
They are such a blessing to know. 

I have some amazing friends at church...
                    the best in fact!....
that helped me decorate and cook.

The dessert table. Mmmmmm.

This was one of the spots for
taking photos of the beautiful girls.

                             These girls deserved a night where they could get
all dressed up and be pampered.
They are so worth it!!!

Some sweeties in purple.

Not a Friend in the World?

This life can be very lonely.
Sometimes it feels that there is no one who understands your heart.
Your family is dysfunctional. Your friends seem few and far.

Maybe you spend time in the hospital and only a few come to visit or call to check on you.

Maybe you are out of town for a while... and no one seems to miss you.



Days go by without the phone ringing.

Conversations are rare.

Compliments~ non-existent.


It makes life hard. And no one wants to ask for help.
You don't want pity. You don't want to beg for friendship.


If these feelings have ever gone through your mind....

haunted you in the quiet nights~


know that you are not alone.


The one who understands your heart the best has also felt alone.


When He needed a friend in His darkest hour~
there were none.

This man is our Savior and Friend.

This man is Jesus Christ.


He promises us His friendship if we give Him our love and obedience.

He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.


He loved us so much that He willingly let men beat him and hang Him on a cross to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.


We couldn't ask for a better friend than this.


If you do feel alone and heartbroken~ I would hope that a special person would be sent into your life to help ease those burdens.


But no matter what the future holds~ we have the Bible ~ the precious words of God to comfort us and give us the love we need. We may be let down by friends of this world, but He will never fail us.


Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts....
2 Thessalonians 2: 16 & 17

Some really cute pictures...and working on it...

First the cute pictures.

Sugarbear

Chasity's, Shauna's and mine (minus Mr. Smartypants who was at class)

My grandblessings...what little punkins!!

Angelbaby

ahem...

O.k.now that I am done sharing randomly cute pictures of our punkins and grandpunkins...

Onto what I'm working on.

Well...yes, the house too...but that is not what I am referring to.

It's these two little words:

pa'tience~(pa'shens), n. 1. Means pertaining to enduring difficulties without becoming angry or upset, tolerant, patient. 2. Exercising forbearance under provocation; long-suffering. 3. Expectant with calmness or without discontent; also, undisturbed by obstacles, delays, failures, etc.; persevering.

long'-suffering n. 1. Means a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation. 2. Long and patient endurance of offense.

***sigh***
I know. I know.
I read those definitions.

Daily.

I keep them in my Bible.

And some days I think,
You've got to be kidding...right?

I am naturally neither.

But He is not kidding.

And I need to do better.
Ever so much better.
So I am working on it.
I think I will be 'til the day I die.
:)

We will be spending the day together tomorrow for Thanksgiving.
Chasity, Shauna, me and all our family.
It's going to be a wonderful, wonderful day full of yummy food, love, laughter and games.

We hope yours is filled with the same!
Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!
We have ever so much to be thankful for.
I pray you enjoy every minute of your Holidays!

Love to you all!
~Debbie

Charity

Charity suffereth long and is kind; 

charity envieth not; 

charity vaunteth not itself; 

is not puffed up, 

doth not behave itself unseemly; 

seeketh not her own, 

is not easily provoked, 

thinketh no evil. 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, 

but rejoiceth in the truth; 

Beareth all things, 

believeth all things, 

hopeth all things, 

endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4~7

I am behind on a few things I was hoping to share. The love of my life and I recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, and I planned on a long post about our exploits(along with fifty other random ones). Hubby thought that hiking the Grand Canyon from rim to river to rim would be a SUPER way to spend our 2oth. (I still think he was trying to get out of celebrating our 21st by doing me in!) Every page on the Grand Canyon site said "WARNING do NOT attempt to hike from rim to river to rim in one day!!!" My uncle who lives in Phoenix and who is a hiking enthusiast said, "I hiked from rim to river to rim in one day, once in my life. I couldn't walk the next day." Nice. 

Did we do it. Yes. Did I survive? Just barely. Did our marriage survive? You betcha. It was quite an accomplishment to achieve together.

But on to this post. I don't feel like I can get onto posting about other things until I get this one out.  My heart is aching for so many hurting marriages. Angry, hurting men and discontented, angry women. Couples that are falling apart daily before our eyes. Couples that want to get it right, but are just not sure how. Striving for the goal, but not reading The Map to get there.

Marriage isn't for wimps. It's not for the "I want it my way" types, or for the "I give up" types. I've been those types. Satan has had the both of us wrapped around his finger before. He tried to take us to rock bottom, but you know who's there? The ROCK, Jesus Christ and our wonderful Heavenly Father. His wonderful word, His wonderful church full of faithful friends to help us find our way back to HIS way for marriage. 

It's not for the faint hearted. It's hard work. It's Heaven on Earth. It's all fairy tales, and dirty dishes, late night romance and dancing in the living room, aggravation that he didn't get you an anniversary card, heaping your heart over flowing full of thankfulness that he holds you so tightly every night, hard work. It's forgiveness and laughter and  happily ever after, did he leave his dirty clothes on the floor again? It's less of self and more of him, because of HIM. It's stop being selfish and get your head out of the clouds, It's let's do it God's way and not my way. It's ALL about agape love, and then the romance, and lovin' fun good times come. It's mud tracked on the carpet I just cleaned, It's being chased down the hall and carried off to our room, wrestled and kissed, while the kids laugh...It's  remembering that I am created to be his help meet...did he leave the toilet seat up? All  rolled up into one. It is HARD WORK...And it is worth every second spent in prayer, worth every bit of hard work, sweat and tears you put in it.  It takes conscious, deliberate action, discipline, selflessness, not selfishness,  to make it work and it does NOT happen by chance.

Besides His Holy word, here are a few books that have helped me (that are helping me), though I give a disclaimer to not agreeing scripturally with every thing in the last two books, they are excellent encouragement for Godly marriages.

The Challenge of Being a Wife

Created to Be His Helpmeet

The Excellent Wife

I am praying for all of us to make our marriages what God would have them to be.

May God bless you as you strive for Heaven on Earth~

a very blessed wife, 

Debbie

Summer Days...Being Purposeful

This summer has been full of blessings.

I have purposed to spend more time having enjoyable
quality moments with my girls and my family.

Doing things that really bring us together.

Like sharing breakfast on the side porch together....

it's almost a sacred feeling~
these early morning moments

and spending lots of time reading really good books.

We are on the 9th book of the Green Gables series and we
have loved every one of them.

We have been taking many hikes and field trips where we can
work on our photography together.

That has been more fun than I could have ever imagined.

We have gone to the zoo...and plan to go lots and lots of times.

We are spending lots of time outside enjoying our gardens.

Each girl has her own flower garden to call her own.
They are beautiful.

and summer wouldn't be complete without rides of all sorts~~

I hope that your summer days are filled with joy.

Beautiful Women

{Rachel and her son Quinn}

I recently watched a talk that a lady named Rachel Barkey had given to a group of women.
It was a talk about her battle with cancer.
It was a talk about the bigger picture.
It was a talk about the hope we can have if we turn our lives over to GOD.


I was sent the link by a wonderful and caring friend

but I just stared at the email for a few days~
knowing how hard it would be to watch.

I finally got up the nerve to click on it and watch it

I was soon crying.



crying.....

and taking notes.

~~I was surrounded with sticky~notes by the end of the video~~




This wonderful woman has left us with a legacy of beautiful words

and excellent wisdom.


I would like to share some of the notes that are now surrounding my computer

{her words are in grey....they may not be exact quotes....but close}


We live in a sinful world. It wasn't meant to be this way.
It will not always be this way. But God has a plan....
to be in a perfect world.



and that plan is perfect....

Jesus~our Savior
and our way to that world is perfect

and Heaven is perfect


~~~~

Let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God;
believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many rooms.
If it were not so,
would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself
that where I am
you may be also.

John 14:1-3

*****************************

My God is able to save me and will. This suffering is temporary.
He will bring me to a perfect world where HE is.

*******************************

I am dying.
But so are you.

*******************************

Jesus suffered for us to save us. God did not spare him.
If I can suffer
why would He spare me if my suffering would result in good for you.

If my suffering is the means that God uses
to bring even one person to Himself~ it is an honor to suffer.


This one took my breath away.
My dear sweet sister had said something so
very much like this to me just days before
I watched the video.

It made me so proud of her.

Her selflessness.
Her love toward others.{Shauna and her son}

And it made me so ashamed.
I don't know that I would be so strong.
So selfless.
So loving.


I am so grateful for these beautiful women.
They are a tremendous example of what faith should be.

My prayer is that I can grow in my faith

see the bigger picture~ that this life is short
and this life is temporary

and that I will turn all my worries over to Him.

~~~

Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6


If you are hurting or suffering....
I pray that you will look to God for strength
and answers.

He will never leave you or forsake you.

My Broken Bones

What Happened and What I'm Doing

{besides typing like a chicken}
peck peck peck

On New Year's Day
we decided to go sledding.

We had sled this hill many times before.....
it had always been so much fun

this time it turned out much different

I told my little Spunky to hop on
but she wanted to sit on back

I'm so thankful that I didn't argue this with her


As we headed down the hill~ I soon realized that it was a solid sheet of ice

We were picking up speed quickly


I couldn't steer



I couldn't stop

and we were headed straight for a tree

As quickly as I could think in such a frightening situation
I stuck out my leg to keep from hitting the tree with my head

and thought


"I'm going to break my leg doing this"

Next thing I know~

I'm in excruciating pain


all I can see is whiteness

and all I can hear is my Spunky crying
and a lady yelling

"Should I call 911!?"


My girlie had hit her knee but seemed to be ok

I couldn't stand alone so my husband raced up the hill for our van
and drove to the road at the bottom of the hill

Half an hour later

I was sitting in a wheelchair
with morphine pumping through my veins

and a wrist that looked like a camel hump


I broke my tailbone
my wrist
have bumps
and bruises

But I'm thankful


I'm thankful that I was sitting in front

I'm thankful that we don't have head injuries

I'm thankful that my leg isn't broken

I'm thankful to be alive


that may seem exaggerated
but I'm telling you

it was scary




but it could have been worse


and now I've spent the last 2 weeks
laying on my left side

wearing pajama pants

watching re-runs of Seinfeld
and
stupid movies at 2 am

reading books

opening things with my teeth

and being thankful


Sure there have been times that I wished it never happened
or I'm feeling sorry for myself

but it doesn't do any good

so I concentrate on the good things


*************
Tonight I did my first cooking
{my wonderful church family has been preparing our meals for two weeks~
they are amazing
I love you guys}

I made chocolate chip cookies...comfort food...ya think?
{and I definitely don't need them after 2 weeks of inactivity}

I know that there may be egg shells in them

but I know we can ignore the extra crunch

because
We are thankful


and my heart goes out to those poor people in Haiti that are hurt


but can't get the help they need in half an hour at the ER

don't forget to pray for them



be careful out on the ice

and be thankful

love

Chasity

photos from flickr

we think we can, we think we can, we think we can...

Remember the little engine that could? That's us right now.

We try to be a positive bunch in this family, and we really are trying! Things have been a wee bit rough around the edges, but we are sure they are looking up.

Shauna has had a better couple of days after a week and a half of vomiting everything up, besides having a very rough flu bug at her house. The whole family was sick at various times with fever, runny nose, cough. Ick!! But today, she felt hungry! Yippee! And did that girl complain? Not a bit! She is an amazing inspiration to all of us. We love her so much. She has a CAT scan Wednesday, and then the consult with the doctor on Friday to see if this treatment is working on this rotten cancer. Thank you for all of your prayers you have offered on her behalf.

Chasity saw the doctor today, and four days after she broke her arm, it is finally set! We are very glad to have that part behind her! She goes back in a week to see if the bones are healing properly, or if she will need a plate put in. Thankfully, they put her out to set her arm. She has been a little loopy (sorry Chas, but it's the truth). But we prefer her loopy rather than in too much pain. Her tailbone is also probably broken, but one thing at a time. Her family has also all been sick, especially Twinkletoes. She just can't shake her little cough. Thank you for prayers on Chasity's behalf as well.

Well, we are a very close family, and we do tend to share EVERYTHING. So, you guessed it, Debbie's family is sick as well. She needs to get better on the double to help aforementioned sisters! Debbie, Hubby, oldest and youngest sons are puny, but especially the youngest. Poor coughing, sneezing, snotty nosed, congested, fevered kiddos! All that said, Shauna's battle and Chas's injuries sure help us keep it all in perspective, and we know these little things will pass.

We hope you all have a wonderful day. There is always a silver lining, always something to be thankful for, and always Hope that comes from Above. Thank you for all of your kind words, prayers and encouragement. You help us remember that with God, we KNOW we can.

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Proverbs 17:22

Love, Debbie, Chasity and Shauna
xoxoxo

An Update, A Big Thanks, An Apology {sort of} and other ramblings and messages

Dearest Blogging Friends,





I wanted to start with a Big Thanks for all your encouraging words, support, and prayers that you have offered on behalf of my sister, her family, and the rest of us. Your kindness has helped so much in getting through this difficult time.

I'm sorry that I haven't been getting around to all of you like I used to. For one thing, it has been incredibly busy....with research, and planning, and just spending time with family. And I can't get excited about fashion or decorating or recipes....{unless they are about cancer fighting foods}.

I appreciate so much you still coming by and saying Hi and offering your words of friendship. Don't take it personally if I don't get back to you right away. Know that I am grateful for you through all of this.

Being shocked with news like this sure is eye-opening and priority-changing. Life is so short and so fragile.

What is your life?
For you are a mist that appears for a little time then vanishes.
James 4:14

It has made me realize even more that every minute counts......
and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.


It has made the bigger picture of Heaven so much clearer.


Shauna is a faithful and obedient child of His who goes to Worship every week, studies her Bible, and prays diligently. I know she has a place prepared for her in Heaven Everlasting. In that I have much comfort.

And I have peace in knowing that my family and I are doing our best to get ready for the life that awaits us after this one. That wonderful place where there will be no cancer.
no tears. no worries. no sorrow.

But my heart aches for those who have not been obedient. Those who deny His existence. Those who put this short life on earth above all else. That is where our true grief should be. We need to have heavy hearts about lost souls so that we have the desire to go out there and spread His Word.


As for an update on Shauna...


She will be starting chemotherapy treatments on Thursday. She will go for treatments for 8 days on ~ then a two week break~ then 8 days in a row again for a couple of months to see if the tumors are shrinking. They are feeling very positive about this course of action....and having a positive attitude is one of the most important things to have right now.

She is going to eat a strict diet of healthy foods that are known to help fight disease. If any of you have any experience with this....please drop me a note in my email.


That and prayers are going to get her better.

Lots of love and big hugs~~ Chasity



A special thanks to my dear friend and a kindred spirit ~Julia~ for letting me use some of her beautiful photographs for this post. Julia is a very special gal who has been doing the work of the Lord in Africa for the past couple of years. You can visit her photoblog here and her other blog here. I can't wait for Julia to open her own photography shop....she is amazing.

Miss you bunches Jewels!

Please do not copy these photos without permission~~if you do it will make you fat and ugly :p

Love and Marriage...

Lately a lot of our friends and acquaintances
have forgotten their vows to God...
and to each other...

it's made us think and think hard
about things we should be doing
to strengthen our marriages and keep them safe...

our list is by no means exhaustive,
just a few things to think about.

**************

Spend time in God's word each day.
1 Peter 3 is a great chapter for marriages.


Don't look up old flames,
no matter how secure you are in your marriage.


Do call him each day to tell him you love him.


Don't forget to laugh. A lot.


Keep him first.


Schedule regular dates.


Let it go...angry words or angry thoughts, that is.
We are all human and we all make mistakes.


Don't expect him to be perfect. You're not.


Snuggle as often as possible.


If you're too busy to have sex,
you're too busy.
If you have to schedule it, do it, so you can do it.


Pray together.
If he doesn't want to pray with you,
pray for the both of you,
but not self righteously.


Be thankful for a good man.
There are a lot of women out there
that would be more than glad to have yours.


Don't be selfish.
Agape love means putting others first.
It's a foreign concept to the world,
but guaranteed to keep your marriage happy.
Blissfully so.


We have seen too many marriages tragically fall by the wayside recently.
Don't let it be yours...or ours.

love, Debbie

Count Your Blessings

I feel overjoyed with blessings on this glorious
and wonderful day~

Blessed with a wonderful husband
who so willingly provides for his family...

Blessed with two healthy children
that fill my heart with love....

Blessed with a warm home
where we are making treasured memories...

Blessed to live in a nation
where freedom still abounds....

There are blessings all around us....if only we will stop to consider them. When we are struggling...they may be harder to see. But they are there. Indeed we are blessed.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above....James 1:17

Can you see your blessings today?

A Lot to be Thankful For

Besides the fact that it is a beautiful, fairly mild summer morning,

with the day s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out in front of us with unknown surprises

and with pleasant activities awaiting us,

including spending the day with my blessings and grandblessings...

And that I can hear the cheep, cheep, cheeping of twelve baby chicks newly hatched out of our incubator...oh they are so sweet...and a few more are on the way...


But the best news of all...
..
The most wonderful news of all...
...
What we are most thankful for of all...
..
is that Shauna, our sweet baby sister
..
is cancer free and feeling good!
..
We are even running together again!
..

God has been so good to answer our every prayer...

..

and there have been many.

..

We won't stop praying that she will be cancer free

...

for life.

That's what we are most thankful for.

visit Thankful Thursday for more encouragement and blessings...