Life : a moment. a vapor.

I'm realizing more and more and pondering this thought of  how short our life is here on this earth (like a vapor from a boiling tea kettle) thats like "a second" or "a moment"...and do we really know what we are living for!? In other words: Do we have a purpose in Life? If so...is it for all the riches and fame this world offers or is it to make a difference to the good in other peoples lives who are less fortunate than we are? If it is to Bless others etc...than it needs to be "a purpose" or "on purpose" because it doesn't happen automatically at least for me it doesn't...it's something we need to choose to do each day of our lives. I'm so Thankful for my Loving Heavenly Father who is not waiting with a whip until I make the next miss-move but one who is waiting with open arms and holds me close and loves me unconditonally! I knew Him since I was a little girl...but in the past year I've gotten to know Him with a much deeper understanding...and for this I'm so very grateful! Joy and Peace it brings. I've not yet arrived but I keep striving...He's still workin' on me to make me what I oughtta be! My desire is to continually go from Glory to Glory while here on this earth! To elevate in my spiritual walk!...realizing how easy it can be to just "get comfortable". One of my favorite songs is "Lead Me To The Cross" which I shared below.

If you ever get a chance to see "Embracing The Fathers Love" a DVD series by Jack Frost, do it! But I warn you be prepared and have an open heart and mind. If you're willing and open minded it will help you to understand the Father's Love more deeply. We did the series with 5 other "awesome couple" friends at "The Haft" near Bradford Co. Thanks to Dutch and Rosa for your amazing hospitality and for your priceless friendship! And  to the rest of the crew...Thanks! Yall are special to us...there's somethin about being able to cry together. hurt together. heal together. laugh together. That is what I call...REAL. TRUE. FRIENDS.

Snow in the forecast for Lanc Co. this weekend. I won't complain about it since I haven't seen any in 2 years. I've always enjoyed snow and the kids missed it a lot while we lived in south TX.

 Our thoughts n prayers are with the Beiler family as they adjust to a new normal in their home w/out Danny there. If there's such a thing as a nice funeral his was one! He was 22 years old and seemed to always have a smile for everyone...he will be missed by many. We will all see you soon Danny!

Have a Blessed weekend and oh I can't help it...since our Phillies lost I became a Texas fan in this World Series! I think Texas will always have a place in my heart.......

A peek into our life...

We are still here at GI's house...hoping to be out in the next few weeks or so and give him back his space and PEACE! Seems every evening I'm telling the kids (including my husband who loves to run all through the house rowdying with the kids) :) "please let's all try to be a little more quiet". GI moved in the basement and gave us the upstairs. He is such a Blessing and doesn't complain a bit! We have a few different options we're considering for our next move...say what you will, unfagneekt, unsettled, restless...but we love our life! It is our desire to together as a family lay down our OWN selfish ideas and agendas and be in "His Perfect Will". We by no means have it all down pat...the Lord knows the desires of our hearts!

We are homeschooling this year again...we pulled the boys out of school when we went to TX last December. So this is our second year and Hadassah has joined them doing Abeka K5 this year. At first I wondered if I'm doing the right thing, she was 4 when we started but so far she seems to be doing ok with it. We all enjoy it very much. When people ask if we're always going to homeschool I say, "for now we love it but we're taking a year at a time". It makes me feel less overwhelmed that way. We couldn't have asked for a better school...teachers, staff, and principle at Shalom School! We felt Blessed with our school experience and would recommend them. There's pros and cons in homeschooling just like anything else. We have significantly noticed more honor and respect in our children...don't be fooled they're still kids and not by any means perfect. We're more directly involved in their lives which we consider a Blessing. I also notice a lot less peer pressure for those of our kids with the "I" or "Sanguine" personality. As for the social part we are as you know always doing something adventurous and exciting and I don't think our children are "socially deprived". We love going places and having friends over! So let's be REAL...it may not be for everyone! Either way you are not condemned! Praise God for the freedom of each ones choice in this matter. I forgot to mention what an awesome supporter I have in this journey of homeschooling. My Dear husband makes this job so much easier by teaching his sons how to HONOR and RESPECT ladies "especially their Momma" and if there's a day of a bad attitude or something he promptly takes action and it's always done in love and always reaches their heart! That's what I call a great leader! Thank you Jesus! I am sooo Blessed!

I have a maid coming in every week whom I pay for one afternoon to finish up school with the kids, babysit, clean windows, bath the girls, make supper and whatever else she gets done. I make a list for her every week and I tell her none of these other things have to get done...the kids come first! That's when I get out to do grocery shopping, miscellaneous shopping, fill up my van, stop at (the farm) Mom n Daddy for milk and Mom makes me a cup of coffee which we sip together and Daddy can't stay away and almost always comes in too and offers me some of his delicious homemade beef jerky. Thank you Jesus for our wonderful parents and for the Godly values they taught us! May I never take them for granted! Getting a maid in is a "milestone" for me and something my husband has been trying to tell me to do for 10 years. I finally gave in...and I love it. I'm the "do it myself" kind. I'm learning that some things need to be delegated.

Have a great week!!!

In Loving Memory....

It's been way too long since my last post...I'll spare you from all the details but it was NOT an easy transition moving back here not because we don't like Lanc Co (mostly work-related) although I'll be honest it was a great experience being out of the area for a time. In the natural (for us personally) it was not worth all the hassle of moving over a thousand miles away but in the spiritual you can't put a price to it and after all which is most important! We are thankful for all the friendships that were established and we believe God's Blessing is on us! We received an education we otherwise wouldn't have received.

 IN LOVING MEMORY OF...
One of the biggest Blessings was to have known this amazing man of God "Syl Matej" who went to meet his Maker on Friday October 14th. He and his wife were the first people to greet us along with their daughter the very first time we walked into Christ Is Life Church and I can't describe the warm welcome we felt!!! Immediately there was a connection between us! He left a legacy that will always be remembered!!! The short time we've known them we've gotten close to them and we cling to the memories we made spending Easter Sunday of this year with their family. They unselfishly invited our family of six people to join them for a delicious Easter meal at their house. After the meal they had an Easter Egg hunt for the littles and we played games and visited as if we'd been family for years! They were like grandparents to our kids. Our kids also loved Syl n Jannie and Don n Doris. Both of these Dear couples were elders of the church. Don n Doris also spent the day there with us. That day, before the meal Syl had a little speech that he shared with everyone about the goodness of God and how that He gave His Son so we can have life eternal and live in Glory Forever...If you would ask his wife what he got most excited about in this life, I'm confident she would say "It was whenever he talked about the Lord and His Amazing Grace"! In church we would often see him dancing for Jesus because of the fire burning inside of him...he just couldn't help it! So sincere and from the Heart! He spoke life into every soul he came in contact with...including us many times! I can picture Jesus saying "Well done thou good and Faithful servant" and him dancing with Jesus and holding the little children! He always noticed our kids and stooped down to their level to hug them and Bless them and they LOVED it and precious memories of him are tucked deep in their little hearts! We are joyous for him but he is greatly missed by a most wonderful wife and children and grands!!! If you think about it please say a prayer for this family. They will never know the huge Blessing they were to us during our stay in Texas where we knew no one at first. That soon changed for which we will be forever grateful!!! Syl, we love you and you will be in our hearts and minds forever! I can see you talking to our child "John Matthew" whom Jesus took in His arms almost 12 years ago and holding him telling him stories. God, you are Awesome and worthy of all our Praise! You are my Abba Father, my Daddy and it's only by your Grace I've been set free! On my own I'm not fit for the Kingdom and you still love me!!! Amazing!!!

Have a blessed week in the Lord!

Below are some captured moments from Easter Sunday...

Syl and Don...great men of God

Syl helping Hadassah find her eggs

Doris and Don...our kids Texas Gramma n Grampa

More awesome people...Kaylen, Tristan, Abigail & Melanie