Blessing

This past Sunday was such a blessing for Babe and I. The church service and music really touched us and challenged us for stronger living by refocusing us to look to Jesus. I love how God knows just what we need and when. I walked out so ready for the school year!

As I was sitting in the service feeling so blessed I thought of my friend Heather. Thanks for being a blessing Heather! I haven't seen you in probably 14 years (thankful for email!) but I count you as a blessing. Thanks for being so real and so caring and so prayerful. You're a blessing to me.

My 34th Birthday-A Wonderful Special Day

WARNING THIS BLOG ENTRY HAS SIGNIFICANT BRAGGING

ON MY HUBBY AND MY KIDS! :-)

A friend of mine has the perfect thing on her blog "this is written by me for me" another words this is life as I view it! :-)

There are always those birthdays that especially stick out in ones mind and I know that my birthday yesterday will be one of those! It was a fabulous birthday and so very special. My hubby asked me far in advance what I want for my birthday dinner. I picked omelets with ham, bacon, cheese, and green onions and for a veggie asparagus. Babe is a great cook and made a fabulous meal. For dessert I picked brownie cheesecake with real whipping cream and strawberries and hot fudge on top! OHHHHHHHHH SOOOOOO GOOD!!! That dessert took a LONG time to make and on top of that our oven is on the fritz and turns off at will and has to be turned back on etc.!

Ok, now for a bit of history on my presents. MONTHS ago we were shopping in Carmel while Annalina was rehearsing for the Nutcracker and we were taking up time by shopping in the fancy shops there. One shop I especially enjoyed and when I saw a necklace I went gaga over it and then looked at the price tag and moved on. BUT a little boy named Gabriel saw my reaction and was bound and determined to get it for me. Babe went back and bought the gift with the understanding that the kids had to pay him back for it. The gift with a little something extra came to $105!!!! The kids have worked and worked and worked and worked for months to pay off Daddy. In fact, when Grandma and Grandpa sent them each $5 for Valentine's they were going to give it to Daddy for my gift but I told them that Grandma and Grandpa wanted them to go to the dollar store to spend it. They have been so excited as my birthday has approached. "Mommy are you excited?!", "Mommy you're going to scream when you see it!" etc.

Well, the time finally came for me to open this gift. Gabriel held one handle of the bag, Annalina the other handle, and Ross held the bag above his head and they came to present me with this precious gift. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the gift presentation. I did scream by the way! I LOVE this necklace just like when I saw it in the store. It is just stunningly beautiful and every time I wear it I will think of my internally beautiful children. I told the kids that a gift of this amount is not necessary but the fact that they sacrificed sooo much for me really meant a lot to me. Honestly, I can't say how much their perseverance for so long to get me a gift means to me. I have some FABULOUS kids. I am so blessed! I just can't say enough. It is one of those proud parent moments.

Ok, so here are some quotes from the kids tonight.

Gabriel-- "Seeing you happy is the best thing in the world. It's better than a Ghirradelli [chocolate] Sundae up to the clouds. That's not as good as seeing you happy."

Annalina (the frank one)-- "If you weren't a nice Mommy we wouldn't have done this. It kind of effects it."

Ross-- "It is a really beautiful necklace!"

Beside that gift. I got $ from my parents to get a facial treatment at a spa. I went in December for the first time and walked out looking 10 years younger! Babe's parents sent me a beautiful sterling silver necklace and my gift from Babe didn't arrive in time but I am getting Salomon hiking shoes for our soon residence in Colorado! That of course is my dream state with mountains I love and love to hike. Oh, also today I was sung to by my brother and his wife on a message, my older brother sung to me Elvis Presley style, and my dad and his friend (long time friend of our family) are travelling to have a meeting tomorrow with J. Hudson Taylor the IV {very cool, huh?!!} and on their way out of town they called me and sang an awful . . . I mean awesome rendition of Happy Birthday and our family friend encouraged me in my mid 30's status!!

I have had some extremely difficult weeks but it is amazing how far a BIG heap of love goes for the soul. Thank you Lord for giving me such a big blessing on my birthday. "Every good and perfect gift cometh from above".

I'll post a picture of the necklace later!

God's Grace is Enough

A few weeks ago our pastor preached a sermon titled: God's Grace is Enough. It was such a blessing to me with things that we have come up against in the last few months and I wanted to get it on my blog for future reference! Sometimes I can feel beat up by circumstances but God has a purpose for those times to use for my good.

God's Grace is Enough

2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10

Introduction: Now, about that "thorn" in your flesh . . .

Suffering and difficulties are a very real part of every Christian experience. (11:16-33)

Paul's Reluctance to Boast (16-22)

Paul's Suffering in Service (23-27)

Paul's Concern for the Churches (28, 29)

Paul's Embarraasing Escape (30-33)

Suffering and difficulties are actually God's tools to bring about our deepening maturity. (12:1-10)

Paul's experience of heaven (1-4)

Paul's lessons learned about "thorns" (5-10)

Thorns protect me from pride vrs 7

Thorns prompt me to pray vrs.8

Thorns reveal the riches of God's grace for me.

Thorns teach me to rest in the power of God through me.