thanksgiving

at Miles' Thanksgiving Feast

Ella aimlessly ran behind the big boys playing football. She looks quite at ease with that Auburn football - War Eagle!
We are thankful for silly and fun cousins!
and for wonderful friends.

Stewart's Led Zeppelin and original music concert. He's our oldest nephew. I can't believe he'll be 13 on Sunday.
Miles loved being outside

Little Sister Katie

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

So where have I been?

Is that what you are wondering? Well, we've finally got one complete bathroom in functioning order and thus have moved back home...yes, that's right...moved back home. We stayed with Mom for 3 or 4 weeks because we had not one, but both bathrooms in various states of disrepair. Now we are home and guess what? My internet connection isn't working. Oh, well. If it's not one thing, it's another. But on to much more important thoughts...

I'm surrounded by sadness it seems, and am sad myself because people close to me are hurting. My friend Stacy lost her mom due to complications from treating multiple myeloma. I am so sad for Stacy and her family. I know all too well the type of journey they are facing. God blesses you with a certain kind of shock in the very beginning when you lose someone. And then it hits. The permanence. Days go by. Weeks go by. Months. Then years. And you intellectually know all along that they are gone. But in your heart... oh, it hurts so bad. Still. I am praying.

One of my very best friends is hurting the same type of hurt again that she faced before. I just didn't expect it again. I am praying. She is so strong and faithful. You know who you are...I love you.

My mom's good friend and hair stylist (she did my hair for probably 15 years also) has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Can I just put out there how very, very sick I am of cancer. I hate it! And it seems to be everywhere all at once. I am praying.

It's the world. It's this fallen world where pain, sadness, hurt, illness and death seem to reign. There's an emptiness in all of us that will only be satisfied when we are with God. With God. At times I just can't wait...

In the meantime I remind myself..."I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:32-33

And that I will be thankful for.

I am so happy that next week Elijah will be all mine as he is out all week for Thanksgiving. I hope to have a Momma and Elijah day. If I don't get back here before the big day (as I'm blogging at Jonathan's office), I pray you all have a wonderful holiday. There is so much to praise God for, especially the hope that only he can provide.

Here we go

I'm sure it does not come as a surprise that I am so not excited about Obama winning the presidency. I know, I know - he's young, healthy, suave, and that he "sold himself" better than my guy. But he never said anything when he spoke. I just remember the words "change" and "distribute wealth" and laughter as he discounted Joe the Plumber.I'll never forget watching him say he didn't want his "daughters punished with a baby if they make a mistake." I can't respect a man who votes down a law to protect the lives of babies who survive partial birth abortion. According to an article I read about it, only the farthest left voted no on this one. A man who thinks these babies, while alive, should just be thrown out as medical waste will be our next president. I can't imagine why. I think people were blinded by his charisma. Did they seek to find his morals? Whether or not you want the government to legislate morality, you should understand the measure of a man can be found in his morals. And I would think that would be important in an election of this magnitude. But, what do I know evidently?

My sweet friend Allison pointed me to this scripture on Monday when we were talking about a prayer meeting for the election. I wasn't able to be at that meeting later that day, so she shared these encouraging words from Habakkuk:

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." 4:17-19

Habakkuk was asking God some tough questions: why do the evil continue to gain? Why do you tolerate wrong? Why do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? God explained that he had a plan that involved the very wicked Babylonians having control in Judah. And God said this: "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay."

Then I found this scripture at Pink Paper Peppermints.


"The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.

Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly." Psalm 37:25

I will pray for our nation and for our next president, as I think he'll definitely need it. And I will continue to seek God and put my faith, trust, and hope in him alone. With him I will find joy...

and to end with a little comic relief - ladies and gentlemen, our next vice president asking a paralyzed senator to stand up. Remarkable!

halloween

Elijah and Isabelle

pray

please pray for my dear friend Stacy, whose mom passed away early Saturday morning, which was also her 53rd birthday. Her family is so very sad...

can you imagine spending your birthday face to face with God?