Contentment

I found this small piece of paper stuffed in an old jewelry box this week....and on it were these words:

Contentment
is not the fulfillment
of what you want

But the realization
of how much
you already have.

WHY??

Do you ever ask the Lord, "WHY"???When you are trying your hardest (and dealing with people), then it often seems your best is NEVER ENOUGH!! That is why God puts special friends in our lives to love, understand, and to pray for us!! I am convinced that those prayers help us get through the toughest days with a testimony in tact!!

We are in the midst of a quandry that we cannot do anything about, but it will affect us for the rest ofour lives. And, it will affect our families, also. All this, we will have to be the ones giving answers for. I have spoken my piece to all but one involved and have been praying for a couple of months concerning this.

Can you please join me in praying for God's will and that I will know when to speak and when to keep quiet?? And, to have wisdom on what to say when??

I cannot share details right yet, but will as soon as I can.

Thanks for caring....thanks for you prayers!

The Sound

I realized a couple of days ago that i have been BUSY---sometimes too busy too slow down and listen and see!! After pondering some grass and its growth pattern in the yard when I realized something profound......their are areas that are fertilized in our lives (some we avoid) and then in the rest, there are random weeds and sparse grass to make it look almost overpowered in the areas that are thriving.....I am reminded that the heart issues erupt from the mouth. I am guilty of not letting God take care of something 100%....I add my two cents worth and then pray!!

Pastor stated last night the things that are joy robbers are: 1.)circumstances 2.)people 3.)things (material) 4.) worry
I confess that the past week ALL these things have affected me!! I cannot tell each of you all that is happening, but just yesterday, I gave it to the Lord and realized He has a plan to work it out, and if it is not the way I envision it, then so be it........I once heard that if you worry, you are telling God that He is not sufficient to handle your problems..........and I know that in my heart and life, but I try to work things out myself!!!

I also revisited my life verses yesterday:

PSALM 121 1) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help 2) My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth 3) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:He that keepeth thee will not slumber 4) Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neithr slumber nor sleep 5) The Lord is thy (my) keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand
6) The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night 7) The Lord shall preserve thee from evil: He shall preserve thy soul 8) The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore.

Oh, that I could be still and hear THE SOUND of my Father's voice!

A RAD week plus

Hello to all---I am home....a little tired but truly blessed.

We had a BUSY week, but the Lord sent some sowers which freed me up at times to run some errands (bead and produce and mail ) for the camp, but I still cooked all the meals and made desserts, breads and pre-prep between times. The girls washed dishes, did laundry and took the trash out about a mile to the dumpster (in an old converted el camino).

We did have a little quiet time late at nite to sit by the lake on the second deck and look at the beautiful scenery. (a couple of times)....when I would leave about 6:30 in the morning to walk to the kitchen, the sunrise over the lake was breathtaking!!! The water glistened pink and the trees being silhouetted witht he lake as the backdrop gave me time to thank and praise the Lord for the beauty for my eyes, and such a beautiful setting for the families from all over the country!!

On Thursday nite, it was quite an interesting time. The freezer (huge walkin) had broken, and the repairman (a new one because th old company had gone out of business) came, and in the middle of dinner had to return because it still was not cooling. Then just, as everything was wrapping up from dinner (dirty dishes and pots and pans staked up everywhere on counters and leftovers to be dealt with and things put away, the electricity went out!! Oh, yes, there had just come a BAD thunderstorm, and most had not seen such an occourance where they lived. You must remember that some of thes kids are REALLY fearful when things change, so we had couple of criers, too!! We got a temporary generator going, but because it was not large enough to sustain all the cam NOR OUR PUM FOR WATER, we still could only wait---we had a bare minimum of emergency lites. We had however, cleared the dining room and the leaders for the group had heated chocolate and given the parent s a time of fellowship with fruit, pretzels, cake, marshmallows, and anything you could dip in the chocolate to be enjoyed. We also drained the water tak drawing hot water for soem foot soaks, and it seemed to relax the group!! Also, all the leaders took the children to the gym for fun and games and turned on car headlights to soothe them. Of course we sacrificed the electricity to run the chocolate fountain!!! I forgot tomention that earlier int he day, the dumpster had been overflowing and we had to hold back onthe garbage until someone couldmake a run to the dump, so we had that to deal with. Oh yes, the freezer repairman (the company was named MR.COOL---went away witha nice meal---brisket, green bean casserole, twice baked potatoes, and fresly baked rolls (had to bak rolls and sub rolls as the dough unthawed!!)....plus I made five gallons of SWEET TEA! (YUM)
The power returned about 8:30 or 9 and we all pitched in and washed all the dishes and cleaned up all but the parents area (we got invited to eat chocolate with them, but we tokk ours after they were gone and we were finished with cleanup)......WHAT A MEMORY!!

We made some friends with a couple from Georgia - Christians-they adopted an autistic child when they were newly married, and he has other problems, but a SWEETIE!! He gave us hugs all the time and ALWAYS wanted to come ane help us in the kitchen...he wiped all the dining room tables doen for us one day! He has a younger brother (Will is 10-Carter is 1 1/2 and
a "normal" child)---BTW I use that term loosely, as siblings were there and only knew that they were either on the red team(RAD or blue team (normal)..never knew the diff!! Anyway, Will asked us to email him copies of the pictures with him. He sang in the talent show on Friday night "Come and God with Me to my Father's House".....need I say I boo hooed the WHOLE time and the girls got so bad they had to go out and recompose before Will got back to us!!They are sweet family that love the LOrd. Will goes to "Buddies" in Awana at his church and they church has a respite every second Tuesday to watch the children so Mom and Day get three hours alone. WHAT A HUGE BLESSING!!

We fell in love with many of the kids and I have permission to write a twelve ear old who had had many problems along with her brain injury....she grabbed my heart ...Pray for me as I minister to her and love Byanca. She has nine siblings....some are adopted...I think she is till in the system somehow.. She is the only girl.

My heart has been soo fulll....I do not want to bore you with my whole week....I missed bloggin and being in your daily lives... I do pray for you, though.

Til next time.......be blessed!!

On the Horizon

It has been a few days, busy ones at that.....preparing to go to camp to work for a week. I had remembered there being about 50 people last time this groug was there, and after a call to Kitty last nite, she said there were ninety one (not including us)....so count on a hundred!!! These kids (21 families as "campers"---it is a seminar and training-) are needy.....

Pray for our strength and health as we work long hours....both in the kitchen and then cleaning bathrooms and anything else between times!! Some are vegetarians, and some are regular diets....so we need wisdom to prepare enough!!

We had a great time with Maddy - Mom and Dad had great fun in Paris and London. We got some natural soaps from Paris and tea (English Breakfast) from London!!

They swear we spoiled her ---believe it or not, the aunts and Grandma have more rules!!

Keep praing for the young lady contemplating suicide and also for a young lady who is under Dr. care right now.....I am witnessing to her!!

We do have the family situation to pray for us for wisdom for, also.

I miss being on daily, but will check if I can get to a computer late at nite....

I am praying for you!!

Maddyisms

Today is our last day here.......we are having a tea party for lunch! Chicken salad croissants, two bie brownies, mini cream puffs, mini cannolis,strawberries,lime tea bites, and constant comment tea. Of course, it is a dress up party!!

I love the way kids conjugate their verbs...."I already dided that..."

Some of the things Maddy says are:

"A long time ago before I was gonna be a big sister"

My goodness decoratious.....

Grandma, they give hollypops at the bank! (lollypops)

"Can we have skrits for breakfast?"(grits)

She told everyone that Daddy and Mommy went to Europe and London, and that Grandma just got back from vacation in Pennsylvania.

When I asked her what Mommy cleaned the diing table with (special finish lacquer), she old me she did not know because it was none of her business!!

When talking to Uncle Derek on the phone yesterday, she ws reciting the book "Gigi, God's Little Princess"--
wow, did we laugh!!

She chastised Rachel for having her eyes open during prayer "Young lady, you have a real problem wiht keeping your eyes open during the blessing!!"(we all were hiding our laughs!!)

She also spilled the beans that baby sister will be named Emma Grace....hmmmm...wonder if Mom and Dad Know???

I sure will miss the hugs and kisses and tucking her in and her singing Amazing Grace with me or God Bless America........



Some of the things, I will have to tell you in person.

F O G G Y

As you know, I only have one computer to get on occasionally, thus my limited contact.

I have been up for about five hours now, so if I make mistakes or repeat myself, forgive me.

I also have been away from home this week, babysitting my granddaughter, Maddy, while my son and DIL are in Europe. What fun we have had. She comprehends and speaks lke a much older child, so, you know you have to spell everything!! It will be hard to leave her late Tues.

My life has been in turmoil somewhat. Please pray for wisdom for me as I pray and deal with a family situation. Of course, my decision does not parallel anyone's, so I am getting grief!!

Aslo, pray or my son AAron who moved out this week....

Must go...will get back later!!