Return to Posting

I am ashamed when I looked at the date of my lasting posting. We have had so many wonderful moments this year, but also some very difficult ones. I was afraid if I started blogging again, my postings would be negative and full of self misery, not very apt for a blog entitled "Living a Blessed Life." You can be thankful I knew my limitations!

We have been through the fire these last 12 months - health, work, church, finances and our precious children and the things impacting their lives. But God has been faithful to Brian and I - so much beyond that which we deserve. He has held our hearts throughout the rough times this year, wiped our tears and wrapped us in His love . . . all the while gently reminding us that He is in control and that He will never leave us. It has been a learning experience this year, a testing of our faith, a refinement of our lives. Even though we are still not through the fire, we can see more clearly His promises and how they are impacting our lives (and His Promises are always Good - that was a lesson relearned - relearned through our path this year with a little help from a Beth Moore study I was blessed to have been a part of).

I don't want the entire year to be absent - as I said so many wonderful things happened this year! I want to share those, so some of my postings will date back a while. But I also want to share some of the fire and refining we have been through - I will try to share more the lessons learned than the fire that prompted them - I promise!

Photo Box for a Friend

One of our women from our church family - Deborah - amazes me. She is in charge of the gifts for our annual women's retreat and does most of the sewing and crafting herself. She sets out to serve others and does it well. I wanted to make her something to remind her of our retreat, so I made her an Explosion Box. It is my first one with so much bling on it - borrowed the idea from another friend. I think it really makes it pop. Hopefully, Deborah will like it and that it will be a memory keeper from the retreat.

Surgical Gloves: Alternate Ways To Use Them

Although I couldn't find a photo of Brian with the surgical gloves on his feet, I figure he probably had something to do with Meg and Clint having them on their feet! It looks like Meg and Clint kept everyone entertained - maybe they didn't want anyone being bored if they weren't holding the baby?

Sisterly Love Plus

While looking through photos to post, I realized I have a great example of Sisterly Love. When Casen was born my two sisters, Sharlene and Brenda along with my niece - Annie, my great niece - Megan and my great nephew - Clint drove to Oklahoma to see him and his parents. I was so thankful they were able to go especially since I couldn't. It did my heart so much good to know that my sisters and reinforcements were there doing the things I wish I could have being doing. Now that is Sisterly Love Plus!!!!

Favorite photos of Bunny and Casen

Thought I would continue with my favorite photos. I love these of Bunny and Casen. Brian is so happy to be holding his first grandbaby and it just looks so right to me! The one of Casen on Brian's lap is when Brian was "helping" Casen lead a song, "Everybody Oughta Know." Guess Bunny is prepping Casen for songleading in a few years. I have a sweet photo of Mandie and Brian sleeping in our bed when Mandie is an infant. Both of them have their arm slung above their head, just like Casen. I need to get out a copy of that photo and post it too I guess.

A Gramma married to a Grampa

While driving around town the other day, there was a little old man obviously confused on which lane to drive in. Brian says something along the line, "Easy Grampa, pick a lane." I looked at him and said, "I'm a Gramma now." He smiled and said, "Yeah, I know." I smiled back and said, "And you're a GRAMPA!" We both started laughing. I guess people can now tell us: "Pick a lane, Gramma/Grampa!"

Sisterly Love

Recently in Bible class, we spoke of how God blesses us by giving people to care for us. Trying to help the children apply this concept to their lives, I asked each child to name a way each person in their family show that they care for them. I expected the usual, "Daddy goes to work for money," "Mommy cooks breakfast for me, and "Brother shares with me." But, I did not expect, "She (her older handicapped sister) just loves me. Oh, and she finally stopped poking me in the eye!" Nothing like sisterly love!!!