A Life Well Lived

If you are hoping for an uplifting, encouraging post...just quit reading my blog right now. It has been a very long week for me, and today I am sad. That's such a little word to try to express how I'm feeling. Just a month ago, I blogged about my dear Gram who passed away one year ago. Today I am mourning the loss of another Grandma. She and I shared no DNA, not "technically" related. Yet, I loved her from the moment I met her in December, 1997. You see, she was actually my Hubby's Grandma. There is not nearly enough time for me to tell you all about who she was or the kind of legacy she leaves behind. She loved Jesus; enough to smuggle His Word to hungry Christians in China decades ago. She loved her two children, and always spoke highly of them. She loved the same man until the day he died. She loved to laugh, and to make others laugh. She had more stories than anyone I ever met!

The first time I met her, I was newly engaged to her only grandson. She and my Hubby had a wonderful relationship; talking, laughing, crying and sharing life together. I remember spending New Year's Eve with her 1998, in her log cabin in Northern CA. Six months later, she was here for our wedding. I remember thinking how beautiful she looked in her blue-purple skirt and jacket. She told me the skirt was supposed to be knee-length, but went to the middle of her shins because her legs were so short.

The summer of 1999, when Hubby and I found out we were expecting Baby #1, Grandma did everything she could to try to send us the rocking chair she got when my Hubby was born. It turned out to be quite expensive to ship a rocking chair across the country, so she bought us one here instead! I have rocked all 4 of my precious children to sleep in that chair.

Last Christmas (2007), Grandma and my Hubby's Mom flew here and spent 2 wonderful weeks with us. Just days before flying, Grandma began to feel very week. She was told that she needed a blood transfusion and would continue to get worse and need more transfusions. So, we spent two weeks enjoying what we were sure would be our last time spent with Grandma. The day after they arrived, Mom needed to do some last minute shopping, but Grandma was too tired. Cutie Pie and I stayed home with her; he quickly warmed up to her, and loved her almost immediately! The rest of the two weeks, if he didn't know where she was he would yell "Bea" until he found her. More than once, he tried to help her stand up from her chair!

So, today, I celebrate Grandma and a life well lived! She will be missed, but she is undoubtedly in the presence of our Lord and Savior!

Armed & Ready...

Are you armed and ready for the day? There's a battle to be fought today, but it's not against flesh and blood (your battle is NOT with your kids, husband, neighbors, extended family or even the dog that makes you chase him back into the house in the rain [sorry, I am a bit off the subject!]) Seriously, our struggle is against the powers of this dark world. Are you armed and ready?

I have had a tough couple weeks, and yesterday I began my day with a pity party. My entire family has been sick for almost two weeks now, and I am the one who takes care of them. Don't get me wrong, I really cherish the extra snuggle time I get with Cutie Pie when he is sick because, at nearly two years old, he is usually not in my arms anymore! I enjoy caring for others; it is Who I am, who Christ made me to be. After two weeks, however,I am exhausted! Throw in a little PMS, lack of sleep, and a sink full of dishes; and I am cranky! I know some of my friends don't believe I ever get cranky ;)


This morning, God said to my spirit, "Arm yourself for this day!". So, naturally I think of Ephesians 6:10-20
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit
Then, in verses 18-20, Paul uses the word PRAY 5 times! "Pray in the Spirit...all kinds of prayers...keep on praying for all the saints...Pray also for me...pray..."

I pray that if you don't know Him as your personal Savior, if you've never given your life over to His control, that you would do it today. (Read Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:13). For those of you reading this who have that relationship already, I pray that you will be ARMED AND READY for this day!
This passage is one we talk about fairly often in our family, so I told my children to see if they could each find something to represent the different parts of the armor...these pictures show what their creative little minds came up with. Aren't they so cute?

Road Trip

Handsome Hubby called home the day before Good Friday, and said he had to go out of town the following week for work, and we should all go.

My first thought was "4 kids, 6 states, in 5 days? The week after Easter, and just before 2 children's birthdays? No way!!"After some convincing from my Hubby, we quickly packed up, found a place for the Dog, and left on Easter (after church, family time, and baskets!). We drove to Springfield, IL(state #2) for Sunday night. Monday, it was through Missouri (state #3) to the N-E corner of Arkansas(state #4). We stayed there until Wednesday morning.

Here's Cutie Pie, ready to get in the hotel pool, wearing his Spidey swimtrunks and Spidey vest!

Dino Dude and Karate Chopper do many things together, including sychronized jumps into the pool! 1-2-3-JUMP...cannon ball! **SPLASH**
The best part of being in a hotel (according to the kids!), is the pool! We were able to spend time in the pool Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Princess Ladybug loves the water! She enjoyed jumping into the pool, holding her breath, and getting ready...ready...ready...GO! :)

A very close-up of Karate Chopper, in his goggles. He's got a face you just have to smile at!

Wednesday, we drove back through MO and IL, into the southern part of Indiana (state #5) and northern part of Kentucky (state #6). We stayed with our good friends who live in IN, just a half-hour from Louisville (where Hubby spent Thursday, for work). As you can see in this picture, our friends have 4 children also, the same ages as our Blessings.
We had a wonderful visit with them, as usual!

I am really glad we all decided to go, as we had some great family time in the car and at the hotel. God provided opportunities for us to bless one another, and others; and we were blessed by our friends' church family! What a blessing to be part of His Family!!!