I'm so thankful for the faithfulness of the Lord!

We've had two major events in our family this past.... the 14th birthday of our oldest daughter, who turned 14 on the 14th (her "golden" birthday!), and the licensing and commission of my husband for the ministry to which he has been called.

Last Monday, our "Sunshine" turned 14. The Lord gave us beautiful weather for a very full and wonderful day, as we started out with the 6yo Honeybee's dermatology appointment first thing in the morning (after I'd already taken Tim to the bus stop at 6 a.m.... which was uneventful, thankfully. If you're confused by that statement, please see my entry a couple of posts down.) Once we were through at the dermatologist's and and dropped the new scripts off at Walgreen's, we went to the grocery store to get a few more items needed for the birthday event later in the day.

Back at home, Sunshine began preparing the apple crisp for our dessert that evening while I did some last-minute housecleaning. She loves to cook, so having two of her friends over to help cook and serve our family dinner was far better to her than having a "birthday party". But prior to the dinner preparations, I took Sunshine and her friends to a nearby salon for a pedicure.... just for a special, one-time, fun event.... certainly not a regular event!

Then for dinner they prepared a traditional colonial meal of Corn Chowder, Virginia Ham with Cherry Sauce, and All-American Baked Apple Crisp. The latter recipe included dried fruits which we skipped, but which were very commonly used by the early colonists in pies during the winter. These recipes were from the book The U.S. History Cookbook by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond, which is used in My Father's World 1850-Modern Times, Sunshine's curriculum for this year. I really like this book because it gives the history of many of our traditional American foods and recipes, so you can see how Mom snuck a little education in there in the midst of all the celebrating. ;o)

After a delicious, filling dinner, dessert, and gift-opening, the girls were able to visit and chitter-chatter for a while longer here in the safety and comfort of our home, before "R" and "H" had to return to their own homes. I'm very thankful that my teenage daughter *enjoys* being home with her family, even on her birthday, and that she's not ashamed to bring her friends home to us. I pray that God keeps His hand of protection on her as she continues growing into a godly young lady of service for Him., and that she might grow in all knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of the Lord. "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Col. 1:9-12

And then there was today's event... the licensing and commission of my husband for service. It wasn't a fancy event... very simple, yet so meaningful. After Pastor Ward had read from Ephesians 6 about putting on the whole armour of the Lord, our pastors and elders laid hands on Tim to pray over him, to pray protection and guidance and power as he serves our Lord as a Chaplain (still Candidate, for now) in the U.S. Army. While Tim has always felt called to the ministry, and admittedly, he "wandered" for some years very much like Jonah did, it's only been evident to us for a few years now that his specific calling is to the military chaplaincy.

But even then, it seemed that the Lord wasn't opening that door "just yet", and we often wondered if it was really so. But those of you who know our story of the past year, including Tim's time at Ft. Benning, and know that God does all things in His good time and way, know that the door has indeed and finally been opened. We give Him all the glory and praise for His faithfulness in our lives, for the pruning and molding that He's done within our hearts and the renewing of our minds. For as the scripture says in Rom. 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

May I encourage anyone reading this to turn your heart toward the Lord Jesus Christ today. There is no sin or emotional pain that He cannot, or has not, washed away by the shedding of His blood on the cross and His subsequent Resurrection. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." 1 John 2:6-10

Can we trust God?

I don't have a lot to say on this. I believe the Scripture speaks for itself and we humans too often try to analyze it way too hard. I believe that's because a) we listen too much to the world's wisdom, or b) we listen too much to our own feelings, which can change with the wind based on whether we got enough sleep the night before, whether we're mad at our spouse, or whether we ate too much pizza last night.

Here's a quote from page 27 of Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges:

"As God's rule is invincible, so it is incomprehensible. His ways are higher than our ways (see Isaiah 55:9). His judgments are unsearchable, and His paths are beyond tracing out (see Romans 11:33). The sovereignty of God is often questioned because man does not understand what God is doing. Because He does not act as we think He should, we conclude He cannot act as we think He would."

A Rabbi Harold Kushner who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People stated that either God is good but not sovereign, or He is sovereign but not good. He implies that God can't be both. I would say that Rabbi Kushner doesn't know what the Word of God says, or just simply doesn't believe it, for if He couldn't be both, then He wouldn't be God, would He?

Romans 8:24-39 (NASB) says:

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Here's the thing. If God were not BOTH good and sovereign, then our Lord Jesus would not have gone to the cross for our sin. And if He had not gone to the cross for our sin, then we would have no hope.

Yes, I am thankful that I can trust God, even when it doesn't "look" like it from my feeble human point of view.

Living life to the fullest

Ever feel like you need to go back to bed already at 7 a.m.? Well, I did on Friday. I shared the following with a friend and she encouraged me to blog about it, so.... here it is, Heidi, just for you!

Let's see... got up and hit the floor running to take Tim to the bus. But first I had to iron a shirt -- before coffee, can you imagine? -- because I forgot to do it the night before. Then I discovered I had virtually no food in the house to send to work with him, so he got stuck with a pbj and an orange for b'fast, and instruction to buy his lunch. Then we head out, and I'm passed in a 45 mph construction zone by a piggy backer going quite a bit faster than I am. We hit the 65 mile zone and we both speed up. He's hanging in the middle lane and I'm staying *just* behind him in the right lane (3-lane highway), as he's going just fast enough that I'd have to really speed in order to pass him, so I stay where I am. At this point I'm already thinking about how this guy's annoying me, but I'm in safe enough spot right here, and our exit's coming up soon. (This is en route to the bus, mind you, and I still haven't had coffee yet.)

All of a sudden stuff is flying off his truck from somewhere and hitting the van. Tim's sitting in the passenger seat keeping an eye on the guy ('cause you know he knows big trucks), and he exclaims, "Oh no!" The guy's landing gear under one of the trailers has hit the ground and is throwing sparks. I speed up to fly past him because I don't know what he's going to do at this point and I want to get away from him. The truck driver had seen his dilemma and was quickly attempting to pull over (remember he's in the MIDDLE lane; I'm in the right) but didn't seem to notice that anyone was in the right lane. (I know I wasn't in his blind spot or Tim would've told me, but the driver was probably paying more attention to his truck at that point.)

So I safely hit my exit ramp and get away from the truck, but I'm shaking and now I'm REALLY needing coffee! McD's is conveniently right across the street from the bus stop. Bus isn't there yet, so I pull into McD's and drive around the building, seeing cars in line and wondering if I have time to get my coffee before the bus arrives. I decide I do, as the line appears to be moving quickly. Well apparently, while *I* was in line, somebody inside decided to take a break or something and the line quit moving. The guy who had been at the front (food) window (who I believe is the manager) had moved to back (money) window. I hand him my money, and the female employee decides to come back to the register at that point so the guy hands my money to her to finish the transaction and walks away. But first she had to take another order, with my money still in hand, and then figure out what to do with my money and which order is mine so that she can give me change.

So I finally get past that window, and I pull up to the food window and the manager guy is there but hasn't even poured my coffee yet. And WHY do they have to mark on the cup when they're just going to hand it right to the customer out the window? Anyway, so he's getting my coffee and Tim sees the bus pull up to the intersection to turn in front of McD's and stop across the street. At this point it's 6:13 according to the van clock, which is about 4 minutes fast. Bus arrival is supposed to be 6:12, so we *should* still be okay on time. Well, I'd smelled pancakes way back in the drive-thru and decided I had to have those, too (haven't had pancakes in ages!), but come on, how long do pancakes at McD's have to take, anyway? I get my coffee but then have to WAIT on the pancakes.

Meanwhile, Tim's got his eye on the bus and decides he'd better get out and walk over. He knows the signals and realizes it's going to pull out soon. So he takes off and I'm still waiting on my pancakes. A minute later, Tim comes back. The bus left before he got over there... AND I STILL DON'T HAVE MY PANCAKES!

Finally get my pancakes at 6:18. Tim says "follow the bus". (It had gotten stopped at the red light up the street.) So I do. There's a bus stop right around the next corner, but the bus won't stop if no one's waiting there and we're BEHIND the bus. So the bus drives on and we follow him all the way up to Blue Ridge, and then down Blue Ridge until he finally stops for a passenger at the Red Bridge intersection. (Meanwhile, we'd passed several bus stops but no one was waiting at them, and we're BEHIND the bus.) But at the Red Bridge intersection, someone is standing there so the bus (and I) stop and Tim jumps out and RUNS up to the door, because that would be tragic if it pulled out w/o him again.

So then I turn around and proceed back home. Thankfully no more incidents en route home, and I make it safely with hot coffee and cold pancakes.

Sheesh. 6:50 a.m. and I was tired. I'm sipping coffee but I still haven't eaten my stupid pancakes because I needed to get on the 'puter right away to order Tim's bus pass for August so that it will hopefully get mailed that day so that he'll have it for Monday morning. Whew! That run-on sentence is exactly how I felt that morning! Because ordering his bus pass is another thing I'd forgotten to do earlier this week.

Normally, Tim's employer will give him his monthly bus pass (in lieu of providing parking downtown), but being new on the payroll, it takes several weeks to kick in (good ol' government), so he won't get one from them until the end of August for September.

Speaking of the good ol' government, somebody didn't get his payroll stuff in on time so he didn't get a full paycheck last week. They did give him 60% of his pay because it was their error, but he won't get the rest til next payday. And I'm wondering why, if they can give him 60% of his pay ON payday, why can't they give him the whole thing?

And the government's going to FIX our problems?

I tell ya, the fun around here just never ends!

Projects

Kitchen floor

Entryway

Dirt

Trim removal

Scrape, scrub & strip

Gray goopy stuff

Not enough

More gray goopy stuff

Measuring tape

Chalklines

Tile

Cutting tools

Pretty!

Aack! Too short

Better

Back to Home Depot

Replace trim

On to the next one

Sand

Sweep

Tile

Oh no!

Better

Supper? We were supposed to eat?

More tile

Not gonna' make it

Tylenol

Sleep

Memories

Happy New Year!

New school year, that is! This year we have an 8th grader, a 5th grader, and a 1st grader. WOW. Where has the time gone? Only one more year until high school? How did that happen? Just yesterday I was taking Sunshine to the beauty shop because she had cut her own hair in a VERY bad spot, as well as cutting her baby doll Sarah's hair, too. (Sunshine's grew out; baby Sarah's did not.)

Just yesterday, Sunshine was riding her Barbie bike on the sidewalk in front of our house on the military post in the desert, in July, wearing a pullover sweatshirt, a summer sundress, tights and sandals. (Trust me, she makes much better clothing choices today!) That girl just HAD to wear tights no matter what. And sandals because, well, it's hot out, you know. LOL!

Just yesterday, Sunshine was reading The Best Nest all by herself for the very first time.

Just yesterday, Sunshine was drawing big hearts with happy smiles on everything that she was allowed to draw on.

Just yesterday, Sunshine was asking her dad and I if she could pray to ask Jesus into her heart. She was 4-1/2 then. She had approached us after dinner one Sunday evening and said she wanted to do that. We talked to her for a couple of minutes to make sure (to the best of our limited knowledge) that she understood what she needed to, and we were assured that she did. (Not all 4-1/2 year olds can do this, but some can.) She didn't want us to pray *with* her right then, but wanted to do it alone. So she went into our bedroom and knelt on the floor behind our bed. We heard her praying out loud, though we couldn't make out the words. We didn't want to get too close as we didn't want to invade that private time between her and Jesus. But to this day, 9-1/2 years later, we've no reason to believe that she doesn't belong to our Lord Jesus and shares an eternal home in Heaven with us, as she's shown us nothing but spiritual fruit over the course of her life. (Not that she doesn't ever sin, of course. We need to never stop praying for our children's spiritual growth and protection.)

She is truly my Sunshine. Such a blessed gift from God.

But this post wasn't intended to be all about Sunshine today! LOL, I just can't help myself. I really love that girl and hate that she's growing up so fast! It has to happen, though, doesn't it? The start of another school year just reminds me again of how time passes and we all grow up... or at least most of us do. It reminds me of what an important job we homeschool moms have to do, ALL moms, in fact, and how difficult it can be some days... trying to balance academics and character, standardized test scores and spiritual growth, physical beauty and internal beauty. I am blessed to be the mother of 3 girls, with whom I've been given the responsibility to train up in the wisdom and nurture of the Lord, to be Godly young ladies who understand that charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised. I fail miserably sometimes, I certainly don't do it perfectly, but I am so thankful for the grace of God, His continuing work in me, and a husband who cares deeply about honoring God (as his name says, Timothy) and protecting his daughters to the best of his ability. That is what this blog is all about, this John 15:5 Academy, for Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."