STRENGTH FOR THE DAY...

We got the chance to hear some of the songs from New Reign's (with our oldest son) summer tour the other night - ironically I had planned to post this today, and then something happened yesterday afternoon which really gives a whole new reason for this song:  my sweet father-in-law passed away.  We had been anticipating it for several weeks now and know he is being welcomed home. Praise God!

My friend Sandy had emailed me this verse 2 days ago, as well:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31, NLT

Enjoy this excerpt (yes honey, I admit your iphone camera is way better than my old Kodak) and renew your strength today, too!

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS...

I have to confess that in the past I have gotten a little miffed if my family forgets my birthday.  Well, not that they have forgotten it totally, but if they don't acknowledge it the FIRST time they see me.  Like they have to wait until the birthday cake is brought out to say, "Happy Birthday!"  And I have also felt shafted about the fact that my birthday is the first of 6 in the summer and we all celebrate together (i.e., GET GIFTS) like a month AFTER my actual birthday.  So yeah, you sense my attitude here.

But something was different this year.  I can't put my finger on it.  But I do know I woke up and prayed immediately and thanked God for the best gift of all, his Son and his sacrifice.  I think I was telling myself to not be a baby if I wasn't acknowledged immediately, or didn't get a present, or a cake TODAY.  And I really was okay.  I knew it would be a great day anyway, since I would get to go to REFRESHER and watch the THUNDER in the same evening!

I did receive a present from my family - a new flowerbed!  There was a spot in the front of our house that has been in need of a facelift for a long time...and my son went shopping with me yesterday for plants and will be redoing it.

My goody for the day was this:

                                 A splurge for me calorically and financially!

Then wouldn't you know it, I received 2 cakes:

One from RefresHER committee and a cute bundtlet from my son's girlfriend!

I wasn't forgotten after all.  I am blessed.  But most of all because I felt joy when I woke up and decided to be joyful, no matter who or how I was acknowledged.  Maybe I'm maturing just a little bit?

BE STILL AND KNOW...

When life is busy

The preparations overwhelming

The piles of stuff (and more to buy)

To think we are prepared

BE STILL AND KNOW

The father who awaits death

We say our goodbyes

Arrangements are made

Schedules are juggled

BE STILL AND KNOW

A child who is lost

With sin's grip so close

Mother and Father 

Bewildered

BE STILL AND KNOW

Meet the Lord in the morning

Cast your cares on Him

Let Him carry the burdens

BE STILL AND KNOW

Inspired by one of my favorite simple songs, 

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Blessings to you this week!

I SPY...

 this beautiful pumpkin blossom!   When I opened my bedroom shutters yesterday, about 50 ft away in my garden, it was saying hello to me.  They don't stay open long...reminds me of our lives here on Earth.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14

Make every moment count!  Have a great weekend!

WEDDING MONTH...

Well, we kicked June off with 2 weddings last weekend.  We are missing 2 when we go on TREK, but will be back in time for another one after that!  It's really a crazy time right now with all these kids we know getting married.  And graduating too....it's kind of hard on the pocketbook!  (Wow, is that an old word or what?  I don't ever use that word in real life!)

So the wedding report...we went to one traditional and one very non-traditional.  I wish I'd have taken a picture at the first one.  It was at our church building, and they had a beautiful wire screen behind them with tea lights.  The bridesmaids wore purple.  The bride and groom are some of the kindest people I know and I know God will be glorified through them.  I got a great tip from the bride's mother - she told me that she had given her daughter a $10,000 budget and whatever they did not spend they could keep for the future.  An awesome idea, if you ask me!

Another lovely Christian couple got married in a very non-traditional way.  It was really just a big party!  It was outside in the beautiful forum at Oklahoma Christian University.  We ate dinner first, then the wedding started with hardly any fanfare.  Afterwards, the wedding party performed some great songs,since most of them are musically talented! Even the bride's parents sang a couple of songs.  Fun stuff!  Sorry, I didn't get a pic of the bride.  She wore a beautiful off white lace tea-length dress and only her hair clip was new.  She's a gorgeous, thrifty girl!  Here's a few pics I took:

                            The wedding party looking over as the bride comes in...

                                                       Table decor

                             Playing cards for favors - perfect for the party atmosphere!

I'VE TURNED INTO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE...

Yes, we are two weeks away from TREK and I am desperately trying to train so that I won't be the "old lady who can't keep up with the group!"

So this is me 3 times a week.  Maybe you'll see me walking the neighborhood.

Or climbing the stairs of this monster.  My husband and his mountain climbing friends call it "Tall, dark and handsome."  I just call it the building that makes me almost lose my breakfast.

Twice now I've climbed the stairs in this building.  Every time we go we do it 3 times.  You got it.  We climbed 66 flights.  In a hot, airless, musty staircase.  With weight on your back.  Don't you feel sorry for me?  I just hope all this training and sweating and almost hurling is worth it!  

Happy Monday to you too!

STILL GETTING SURPRISED...

which proves we as moms really don't know anything!  LOL

I was planning on meeting and feeding college kids last night, but didn't think they'd stay and swim!  But they did, and it was a great time!  I even pulled all the pool toys out of the shed.  Then THUNDER time came and they all dried off and headed upstairs to the big screen and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the Thunder stomp the Spurs!

Meet New Reign for 2012:  they'll be traveling together this summer, singing and promoting Oklahoma Christian University!

Such sweet girls from Kansas, Texas, and Shawnee area

And the boys from Ft. Gibson, OK; Edmond, OK; Colorado, and Wyoming

It was a SWEET night all around.  And if you want to swim, the pool's open!