Well, today I’m consolidating …. last weekend’s updates, with this one! … I know, a little late on last weekend, but we were busy catching up on some overdue projects, and other life happenings that were going on before Ian flew in yesterday, early AM.  I’m so glad to have him home again!  Anyway…back to our (last) weekend!

It was the most beautiful weekend here in Indiana, finally!  So, my hubby and I went down to Brown County on Saturday, and enjoyed walking in the warm sunshine, seeing the spring flowers, listening to the local corner guitar player, singing gospel songs…he’s an icon there, and I should have gotten a picture, but by the time we came back his way again, he was gone…so I researched it online, and I came up with a local informational magazine about the town…and, he was showcased on the front of this past October’s issue!  Not a real clear picture, but you get the idea!  He’s been there as long as I can remember!  Same corner, same guitar, and same great songs!   

 

When we got there, we so enjoyed the flowers … not as many as usual, probably due to the longer cold spells we’ve had!  These pictures aren’t the best, but I snapped a few shots from around the town … it was such a beautiful day!  Come on down for a visit!  

… This sits in front of one of my favorite shops there …
Michael’s Flowers! 
They have anything you’d want to make a beautiful garden,
or…to make a garden beautiful!




… I loved this, very, pink bench …



… “Town Mascot” …
… He actually talks and moves …
He knows us by name!



Now, wouldn’t you go mushroom hunting for these?!!
“Garden art” by Michael’s Flowers!



… I loved these tulips …
Everything around them still had that wintery gray look,
but these just “popped”,
and brightened everything right up!
“Garden art” by God! 
“…Behold, I make all things new…”
Revelation 21:5

A clever use for recycling those old tea pots!
I’ve got a couple I could use!
Aren’t you so very thankful that God doesn’t just throw us away!  
He recycles us, so to speak… 
as we are repentant, and confess our sins,
He forgives us, and then He redeems us!

“Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:1-2,10





Backing up a bit here …
on our drive down to Brown County, we saw a very interesting site,
which reminded me of my son being in California,
and of the Beach Boys, and of the beach! 
Ever seen one of these? 



“SURF’S UP”
Well, not here in Indiana, anyway!
(Yes, that’s DH standing in the background looking like he owns the thing!!)

We were just driving along, when we saw this “beach wagon”, and just had to turn around in hopes that the owner would allow us to get some pictures of it … I lived in California, for a short time, in my teens, and I remember the dune buggies, and the 3 wheelers (sort of like a recycled motorcycle  ) … those were all the rage … really “groovy”, as we used to say!  Well, this man looked like he just walked off the beach!  Very nice guy!  He had a shirt that said “Surf Shop” on it, but he didn’t want to be in any pictures.  He was probably in his late 60′s, and still havin’ fun!  Check out that surf board, and the whitewalls with yellow rims!!  He didn’t mind at all that we snapped a few photos…and they don’t do it justice … you had to have been there … the inside of it was really nice!  There was a Christian bumper sticker on it, and it was nice to talk with him.  He said he’d been working on this wagon, and was waiting on some friends, then heading down to Brown County, as well, to a “souped up” hot rod car show on the streets down there, where he was going to park it for a little while. 

When we got finally got to BC, after a beautiful drive in the country, down the back roads, we enjoyed some of the shops, then went on over to the car show.  The work these guys put into these cars is really amazing.  It’s spring time and that’s when they begin having these cars shows around here!  Most of my pictures were fuzzy, and there were a lot of people looking at them, so it was hard to get good clear shots of them…and I’m sorry, but here are a couple of our favorites … see anything you like?!

We had one similar to this when we first got married…
my brother worked on cars like this…
and he sold us one, very cheap, back then. 
Oh, it wasn’t as nice as this one, but it was a very dependable car!
I loved the turquoise color … and those whitewalls!

This one had a really nice paint job on it!
Couldn’t get any more pictures…
too many people oohing, and aahing, over it!

MY FAVORITE!

HUBBY’S FAVORITE!

ANOTHER ONE WE BOTH LIKED!
They just don’t make ‘em like they used to, do they?!!

All around our weekend was wonderful….and this weekend, my guys are down in Louisville at an antique/craft/flea market.  They are having fun!  Me? I’m enjoying a nice quiet weekend, devotions, blogging, catching up on some reading and some housework.  Next week is going to be busy for us … cleaning out the garage, and the basement!!!  Both, monumental tasks, but nevertheless, it has to get done!!!  I pray you all have a wonderful, blessed weekend … the weather is beautiful here, and I hope it is where you all are, as well … we’re all due for some, right?!!  Do I hear a resounding, YES?!!  Enjoy the weekend, and the Sonshine!!


Hugs,
~ Deborah    


SONSHINE BLESSINGS ~

Gather from each day God’s sunshine blessings to the heart –
Gentle gifts of beauty, just for you …
Hold them in your memory, wrap them carefully with love,
and they will shine with joy forever new!

“Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous:
and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” 
Psalm 32:11
 

 

Quick Update #2 ….
First of all, we found out they missed their flight … again … on their return trip home, so that changed the flight schedule,  just a smidgen!  They wouldn’t get in until 12:45AM … 2 hours later than originally planned … so our dinner plans changed as well.  We met Tim’s parents, brother, and sisters, at Denny’s at 10:30PM, and had such a great time for about 2 hours … and we kept the waitress fillin’ those coffee cups! 

At 12:45AM we got the call that they had landed … so we headed on over to pick them up!  It was so good to get those long awaited hugs … all around!  They looked very tired, and to top it off, they were in line waiting to get their luggage … and they waited, and waited … well, their whole flight schedule had been changed, but … the luggage stayed on the same schedule!  They were to have flown from San Jose, CA to Chicago, then on to Indy….but instead, they flew first to Las Vegas … ( where Ian bought me a “Welcome to Las Vegas” t-shirt! ) … then on home … and now without luggage, which consisted of only most of their filming equipment, not to mention most of the clothes he owns!  So he had to put in a claim, and will call to check on it later today.  They “think” it’s in Chicago!  Please pray they find it!  

We finally got home at almost 2:00AM, but no one could really sleep, and they were to leave at 4:00AM for the show in Kentucky!  Well, right now, it’s about 6:00AM, and they are finally on their way.  I’m praying they will be able to stay awake on the trip down … and just to have strength to get through the day, since neither of them has had any sleep, and Ian also, has lost 3 hours on the flight back!  It’s going to be a long weekend for them!  They tried making reservations down there, but all is full except one hotel, and it’s triple the normal cost of what they usually pay!  Really pray that it is a profitable weekend for them! 

Me….well, I’m officially exhausted, plum tired, and tuckered out, so I’d better get some sleep!  The day is about ready to begin here soon, so, after some shut-eye, I’ll be back on later to visit, and see how all of you are doing!  I also need to post with an update on last weekend, before this next one gets here!    Have a beautiful Friday! 

Good night!! (er’ morning!) 
Hugs ~ Deborah     

P.S. I really want to thank you, again, for all of your prayers for their trip, and your encouragement for me!  I have been so blessed by your caring hearts, and I’m glad to have met you all! 

~ GOD KNOWS ~  
  
When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts…
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you’ve cried so long and your heart is in anguish… 
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by… 
God is waiting with you.

When you’re lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call… 
God is by your side.

When you think you’ve tried everything and don’t know where to turn… 
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated… 
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope… 
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for… 
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe… 
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow… 
God has opened your eyes and called you by name.

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing… 
GOD KNOWS!!

I was going to get on here and share with you about my weekend and how beautiful the weather was … but I felt the Lord, on this Monday morning, wanted me to share the following with you, instead!  I’ll catch you all up on the last couple of days later, but for now … He wants to teach us of His immeasurable LOVE!

                                        THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD’S LOVE

When I am in the middle of a difficult time, I may not feel loved by God.  That’s because my entire perspective is warped.  The circumstances are so close to me that they seem to tower above God’s love and block it from my vision.  But that doesn’t change the reality that God’s love abounds all around me.  It reaches far above.  It transcends time past, and time to come.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love ….
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear him ….
From everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’S love is with those who fear him.
Psalm 103:8, 11, 17

Look at the dimensions  of God’s love ~ “high as the heavens” and “from everlasting to everlasting”!  Anyone who ever saw Mount St. Helens in Washington before 1980, would have said it looked massive and permanent.  Yet on May 18 of that year, the top 2,300 feet of the mountain disappeared within minutes.  The blast area of the volcano covered an area of more than 150 square miles and sent thousands of tons of ash into the upper atmosphere.  What looked so permanent, was forever changed.  God tells us in His Word:

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will NOT be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10

Every earthquake that shakes our lives, every volcano that wreaks destruction is a reminder that while nothing in this life is everlasting, God’s love for us is!  Yes, everything that looks so permanent in your life may be forever changed … but God’s love for you will never change.

We tend to judge God’s love by the human love we know.  When the people who should love us let us down and fail us, we fear God will do the same thing, especially when we know that at times we are pretty unlovable.  But God’s love isn’t like human love.  His love for us never fails.  We need to hold on to the truth of God’s Word ~  what God tells us about His love. 

The apostle Paul prayed for believers who were going through hard times, “That you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”  {Ephesians 3:17-19}

I’m not quite sure how you can know something that surpasses knowledge, but I think Paul meant that no matter how deep we probe God’s love, we will never reach the end of it.  We can investigate it, delve into its depths, and explore its reach … but we will never, never, come to the end of God’s love.  Paul wrote:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, 
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

So what does that mean in my life…in your life?  It means I can judge my circumstances by what I know to be true about God, instead of judging God by my circumstances!  It means I can truly rest in His love for me!  I can close my eyes, lean back, and know that though everything I count on in life may fail, God’s love will always catch me!  


Dear  LORD,
Thank you for blessing us with Your love that is so infinite, and eternal.  Help us to be rooted, grounded, and established in that Love.  Help us to grab hold of You, and come to the knowledge of how wide, how long, and how deep Your love truly is for each one of us, and that nothing will ever, ever separate us from it!  Help us to share that same gift of love with others who you bring across our path.  In Jesus’ Precious Name, Amen.
 

Well, here is the latest!  He’s on the beach in sunny Seaside, California, and looking like he’s enjoying himself!  I asked him what all that was on the beach behind him…he said, seaweed and stuff!  What’s the stuff??  I wish Tim had been in one with him, but it looks like the beach was pretty empty, so no one was available to take a picture!  He said it’s been cool, and windy most everyday they’ve been there.  They went to the aquarium today, and he said he got to pet the Bat Rays…said they were like dogs?…and they loved it?  Well, I’ve never met a Bat Ray before, so I really wouldn’t know!  They’ve taken more pictures today, and I’ll post those as I get them…I’m just, oh so, real anxious to see a Bat Ray!!!!!  Anyway, the day looks beautiful there, and I’m sure he’s going to have a nice weekend!  I hope you all have a nice weekend as well…it’s supposed to be beautiful here, and my hubby is going to take me to a quaint little town, about an hour south of us, so we can walk around, enjoy the dogwood trees, the fresh air, spring flowers, and the warm sunshine!  I’m also going to stop and look at computers!!!  Bless you all! 

Hugs,
~ Deborah 

“Waiting Upon God”
“On Thee do I wait all the day.”
Psalm 25:5

Waiting upon God ~ in this expression we find one of the deepest truths
of God’s Word in regard to the attitude of the soul in its communion with God. 
Just think ~ that He may reveal Himself in us;
teach us all His will;
do to us what He has promised;
that in all things He may be the Infinite God. 
It is the attitude of the soul with which each day should begin. 
In everything there should be a waiting upon God to receive what He will bestow,
to see what He will do,
to allow Him to be the the Almighty God.     
The deep root of all Scriptural theology is this: 
Absolute dependence on God!

~ Andrew Murray ~

Okay…it’s been one of those days here at home…wonderful!  I’m keeping a positive attitude!  I’ve been having computer problems, and I wanted to post to let you all know that I’ll be back if I get closed down!  Our DSL is acting very strange…and I’ve noticed a new box at the bottom of the comments for giving reviews of our comments!  What’s up with that?  Weren’t the eProps good enough?!  Oh, well, they are constantly updating, and upgrading, and I wonder what we’ll get on here next! 

Hope everyone is having a blessed week!  Spring might make an appearance here this week…are we ready for that!!!  Ian is doing fine, and having some fun, to boot!  They are filming a project at the church tonight, so I’m sure it will be a late night for him.  I’ll be posting this great picture he sent me, tomorrow, when I make some new changes on my site, as long as I don’t get closed down!  

I’m also catching up on a lot around here…cleaning, etc., and chasing those dust bunnies…well, that’s a never ending chore…have you ever noticed how those things multiply?!!  Wish there was some way to eliminate them for good!  But if there was an attempt to do that, we just might get arrested for crimes against an endangered species!!  Not as far fetched as you would think…read what I actually found on the Internet!!

25% OF HOMES DECLARED CRITICAL HABITAT

DUST BUNNIES DESIGNATED ENDANGERED SPECIES

WASHINGTON: The common American household Dust Bunny has been designated as a endangered species, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USF&WS) announced last week.

“The widespread use of household cleaning products and devices has drastically reduced the habitat of the Dust Bunny,” said Noah Present, Acting Director of the Endangered Species Program. “American homes are cleaned too frequently, and much better than in the past.”

“We are not to blame for the improper use of our products,” responded a spokesperson for the Household Products Association. “Correctly used, many of the Dust Bunnies should survive.”

In addition to designating Dust Bunnies as an endangered species, USF&WS also established critical habitat for the critters.

“Twenty-five percent of every dwelling unit in the country must be left uncleaned,” announced Present.

The Dust Bunny preserves in each home are required to permit the Dust Bunnies the opportunity to breed. The required preserve must include space beneath beds, sofas, and under refrigerators.

“However, if a person feels it would be an undue hardship to leave a quarter of their home uncleaned, we have a Dust Bunny Habitat Protection Program available,” noted Present.

A person seeking to clean their entire home can pay another person to leave more than 25% of their home uncleaned, advised Present.

“This is wonderful,” said Angela Ashes, who promptly signed up to never clean her home in exchange for Dust Bunny Habitat Protection payments. “Now, instead of paying someone to clean my house, I get paid to leave it dirty.”

New home construction would not be affected by the Dust Bunny protection program, so long as each new homebuyer signed a covenant at the time of purchase of their homes to always leave 25% of the home uncleaned. The deed restriction requiring the dirty area could be enforced by the FBI.

USF&WS also plans to reduce the number of cleaning people in the country, to assure the survival of the Dust Bunnies. “We will pay for re-education to less environmentally dangerous jobs such as participant in a Survivor show,” said Present.

Now, in honor of the “Dust Bunnie”,
they have appropriately named the following galaxy!

Interstellar Dust-Bunnies of NGC 891
Credit: C. Howk & B. Savage (Wisconsin); N. Sharp (NOAO)
Copyright: WIYN, Inc., 3.5-m WIYN Telescope

Explanation: What is going on in NGC 891? This galaxy appeared previously to be very similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy: a spiral galaxy seen nearly edge-on. However, recent high-resolution images of NGC 891‘s dust show unusual filamentary patterns extending well away from its Galactic disk. This interstellar dust was probably thrown out of the galactic disk toward the halo by stellar supernovae explosions. Because dust is so fragile, its appearance after surviving disk expulsion can be very telling. Newly discovered phenomena, however, sometimes appear so complex that more questions are raised than are answered.


Thought you would all enjoy a smile!
Have a blessed Friday!
Hugs,
~ Deborah <><


“Happiness is the result of being too busy to be miserable.”

 Ian made it to Cal-lee-for-nee-yuh!!  

 

First I want to thank everyone for all of your prayers, encouragement, and cyber hugs!  You’ll never know how much it has meant to me!  God has truly taught me how to walk in the midst of the overwhelming…while abiding in His peace!!  Yes, I still falter, but the peace that I feel is now becoming a part of me…one less place that the enemy can get a foothold!!  I’m gaining ground, by God’s grace!!!  

Update:  Ian left Phoenix early this morning on a direct flight into San Jose, where he met Brian’s dad, and Tim.  They all went on a 17 mile tour on a highway that runs along the beach … then onto a restaurant, called Fisherman’s Warf, where they ate clam chowder and carmel corn, while watching the waves roll in … weather was great, but cool!  Is that the life, or what!  But I do have to ask … clam chowder and carmel corn???  Think it’s good together??  He is enjoying himself, and is now finally able to get some much needed sleep!  We’ll keep you posted on the happenings while they are there … keep checking for updates on their sites … and something exciting is in the works regarding the African Children’s Choir, and I’ll fill you in as the details become more clear. 

Our antique/craft show was fair this past weekend.  We think the weather kept them from coming … you just never know how these shows are going to turn out!  Oh, and it’s also tax time, so that could be a factor!  But we are certainly thankful for what we did do!  We have a couple of weeks before another show in Louisville, KY., so we’re going to work on some things that we need to get done around home, here, and I’ll be dropping in on you all to catch up, then make some changes here on my blog.  Most of all, I’m going to sit at the Lord’s feet, praise Him for His faithfulness, get refreshed, restored, and keep on gaining that ground!!  You all have a wonderful, blessed day…in Him!!

Hugs,
Deborah  

  

 
LORD, help me to live in Your joy and peace.  Give me strength and understanding to resist anxiety, anger, unrest, envy, depression, bitterness, hopelessness, loneliness, fear, and guilt.  Rescue me when “my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed” (Psalm 143:4).  I refuse to let my life be brought down by negative emotions such as these.  I know You have a better quality of life for me than that.  When I am tempted to give in to them, show me Your truth. 

You have said in Your Word that by our patience we can possess our soul (Luke 21:19).  Give me patience so that I can do that.  Help me to keep my “heart with all diligence,” for I know that “out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Help me to not be insecure and self-focused so that I miss opportunities to focus on You and extend Your love.  May I be sensitive to the needs, trials, and weaknesses of others and not oversensitive to myself.  What you accomplished on the cross is my source of greatest joy.  Help me to concentrate on that. 

“The enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.  Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.  I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.  I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land.  Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails!  Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.  Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” (Psalm 142:3-8)  

Thank You, LORD, that in my distress I can call on You.  And when I cry out to You, LORD, You hear my voice and answer (Psalm 18:6).  May the joy of knowing You fill my heart with happiness, and peace.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 
~ Sunday ~ Some Flight Problems    !!

*Indy to Atlanta, GA (layover) went great.
*Atlanta to Raleigh, NC … no problem!
*Spent Thursday thru Saturday filming.
*Received flight plans from Brian.
*To catch flight out to Nevada @ 7:30AM.
*Tim and Ian….Overslept!!!
*Got to airport just in time to catch plane,
  but flight plans were misplaced, so they missed that flight!
*Spent all day trying to get another flight.
*Finally, in flight to Phoenix, Arizona, @ 3:40PM.
*Ian was to have called from Phoenix when stopping over.
*No call until Midnight!!
*They could not get a flight from Phoenix into San Jose….together!!!
*Tim went on without Ian!!!
*Ian alone in an Econolodge in Phoenix, AZ!!  Mom a bit concerned!
*Ian’s flight … tomorrow morning 6:05AM  (their time).

Okay, here is where I need peace!  Now, I’m not too happy about him being alone out there, but there is absolutely nothing I can do about it…other than pray, pray, pray!!  So, it’s here that I need some much needed encouragement, and prayers for Ian!  I’ve spoken to him twice, and he seems okay, but I’m sure it’s a bit different for him!  It’s late, I’ve had a long weekend, I’m tired, fuzzy brain, and now … just a little bit concerned for him!  By the time some of you read this he’ll, most likely, be in San Jose.  So as soon as I get more info, I’ll post an update!  Now if any are interested, they are posting pictures from time to time, and journaling their trip at Tim’s site here on Xanga:  timporter.  You all have a blessed Monday, and I’ll update as soon as I know more, and, Ill fill you in on other happenings, as well!  

Hugs,
~ Deborah

The Faithful Shepherd
God will never forsake you,
Nor leave you alone,
For the Shepherd is faithful
To care for His Own.

“Surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Saturday ~ Picture Problems!!!
*** OOPS!!!…some are saying pictures aren’t showing up.. …I’m so sorry!!  
I’m working on it now…if they don’t show up at my first try, I’ll work on it when I get home tonight, and then maybe you can see our “fuzzy” faces!!  

~ Friday ~
I’ve been loving all your comments, prayers, and encouragement!!  So here’s a little..well not so little, update for ya!!
I had started writing this the day before Ian left, so I’m just using it to recap: 

~ Wednesday ~
Okay…things are in major motion around here!  We had a couple of emergencies that came up as we’ve been trying to get Ian ready to fly away!  Whew…the things you have to go through to pack!  Anyway, it’s coming together, and things are seeming a bit calmer….myself included!  I really appreciate all of your thoughts, and prayers!  Last night we had a “mom~son” night out.  We did some shopping for shorts, and polo shirts, shoes, and extra little odds and ends.  We also had dinner at Chili’s together!  When we were at the mall, I saw this booth that said Portrait Studio.  It’s where they snap about 4 pictures of you, then you make a choice as to the pose, and whether you want black & white, or color…{the color was $2.00 extra, and Ian wanted B&W…so we opted for that…I liked the color, but it was Ian’s night!}  Well, we both squeezed into the booth, seriously, it seemed like about a 2×2 area, and Ian is just a lit-tle bit bigger than me, lol!!, so, … we posed {couldn’t do much posing in that space!!} … we smiled … they snapped … we chose … then this hand starts drawing our picture on the screen in front of us … it was kinda neat!  He — aka. the machine, even held a conversation with us!  Well, sorta….we weren’t talking back!!  He would say things like, “this is lookin’ good”, or “are you sure you’ve never modeled before?”, “just a few more minutes”, and “almost done now”!  Then it would draw mistakes in the picture that were funny, and he’d say, “oops”, or “sorry about that”, and the eraser would appear, and fix the blunder!  At one point Ian had bangs, and I had a mustache … boy, was that ever attractive!! Lol!!  We had fun doing it …so, when he gets home we’re going to go for the color version, and maybe some funny faces!  Photo booths, hmmm, all I remember are the ones that would snap the pictures, then they would come out in a long strip of 4 black and whites.  I still have a couple of those around here!  Those were the days!  Times change, don’t they?!!  So, anyway, here is the finished product of our “Mom & Son” portrait!  A little off center, but like I said, he took up most of the space, but that’s so okay….it was Ian’s day!!    

The night before Ian, and Tim, flew away, we got together with Tim’s family for dinner at Cracker Barrel!  Yum, Yum!  We spent 2 hours just talking, laughing, and loving our boys!  I am so sorry these pictures aren’t very good, but I still wanted to share! The camera wasn’t cooperating so they didn’t come out too well….like I said, I’m working at getting a new camera, and I’ll get a better one!  So for now, you got to focus a little bit to see below, from left to right….
Hannah, Ian, me–(bad hair day!), my dear hubby, Bob, (with the hat), Little Johnny, Linda, Tim, & Elizabeth!  We’ve known Bob since before my hubby and I got married, so Ian has know them all of his life!  We love this family!  We’ve all grown up together, and they are a faithful testimony to what true giving means!  


 

After dinner, we brought Tim home with us, so we could just take them to the airport from our house, since we were closer, and the flight was leaving at 5:49AM the next morning!  Well, we didn’t get to bed until 1:30AM … we were up at 3:30AM … arrived at the airport at 4:45AM … had a bite of breakfast, McDonald’s style, and then it was off into the wild blue yonder!  They did just fine, only very tired … and once Ian called me at his layover, I was feeling better!  They made it to Raleigh, and are now busy at work!  I’m so thankful for cell phones…never thought I’d say that!!  They’re usually a nuisance, but they do come in handy with things like this! 

Well, as I’ve said, Tim and Ian have know each other forever, so I have to share a couple of pictures of them through the years! I have so many more, but this’ll do for now!  This first one was taken in the summer of 1989.  We took the boys to our local fire station, and they had a lot of fun seeing those big fire engines, and wearing those official helmets!  It was too big for Timmy’s little head. At one point I think he was a little in–TIMMMY–dated by the biggness of everything!!  I didn’t post that picture!!  And, as you’ll see Ian towers over Timmy … even then! 

Ian 5 – Timmy 2

This second one was taken in 1994, on Timmy’s birthday…
Timmy 7 — Ian 9

And today….
This was taken at our family dinner Wednesday night.
Tim 20 — Ian 22
“Best Buds”

So now….let’s compare….
My, how we change in just a few years!
How many of us can say that we have
pictures with our best friends like this?!!
They’re going to do mighty things for God!!
Love these guys!!




Well, I’ll keep you all posted as to how things are going with them! 
I want to thank those that sent your sweet prayers and encouragement…
you can’t even begin to know how much it has blessed me!

 

Yes, I’m human, and it has been overwhelming to say the least, but God is so faithful!  And you’ve been so understanding!  It feels good to be here with you all!  So here’s a big cyber hug in return!!! 
Now, I’m off to an antique/craft show in the morning, so I need to get some rest! 
But I’ll be around to visit … time permitting,
tomorrow evening, and Sunday evening …
but Monday, absolutely, positively, for sure, for sure!! 
I pray you all have a beautiful weekend, and be blessed in the Lord! 

Love & hugs,
~ Deborah


~ Walking In The Midst of the Overwhelming ~

Lord, help me to recognize anything that seems overwhelming
to me as a sign that I need to immediately draw close to You and pray. 
Give me a clear sense of what is going on and show me exactly how to pray about it. 
I know that Your perfect love will take away all my fear. 
Perfect me in Your love so that I don’t fall victim to the torment that fear can bring. 
Give me a deeper sense of Your presence,
for I know that Your presence is far greater than anything that overwhelms me!  
~~~~~~  ~~~~~~
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,
when my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 61: 1-2
~~~~~

  
~ The Cross ~
Understanding Your True Worth

     

Jesus walked on many roads during his brief time on earth. The roads He walked on led Him through valleys and over hilltops, they brought Him through crowded city streets and quiet villages, they guided Him to people’s homes and festive celebrations, but the road that led Him to the place of crucifixion was the one He was born to travel.

The Father watched from heaven as His Son, beaten and bruised, staggered under the weight of the cross on His way to a place called Golgotha. Jesus knew that this road was the only way that His love could find a place in our hearts. If God would have set a roadblock on this road and said to His Son, “Road closed,” we would never have found our way to Him.

It is Jesus’ journey to the cross and His crucifixion upon Golgotha’s hill that opens our understanding to the meaning of love at its deepest level. Salvation is our free gift that cost Jesus everything—

  His brokenness means that we can be made whole
  His sorrow means that we can have fullness of joy
  His rejection means that we can be accepted
  His pain means that we can be healed
  His death means that we can have life everlasting.

The devil has convinced so many people that they are worthless. Each of us needs to stop and remember the cross—at the cross we will discover our true value— for it is here that we discover the price God was willing to pay for us, the depth of His love, and how much we are worth to Him.

Compassion From the Cross

John 19: 17–27

Today’s Treasure:

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother’ ” (John 19:26-27).

I have often meditated on this tender scene when both a screaming throng and the searing pain of crucifixion momentarily gave way to another concern.  In the midst of unimaginable torture, with every breath a struggle, the sight of Jesus’ grieving mother and horrified friend captured His attention.  Inconceivable compassion spilled from His heart as He bid them to love and support each other.

I see great significance in the fact that He did not minimize their loss or grief.  He did not consider their pain an insignificant detail in a work of far greater glory.  He did not wonder how they could think so temporally. His heart broke with compassion and He reached out to them in their need.

A glimpse of Christ’s heart in this tender moment can be healing for us if we’ll let it. You see, He looks on us with the same compassion.  Imagine—at the very moment Christ was dying on the cross, salvation was secured for all who would believe.  The enemy was defeated.  Hell was trembling.  Demons were howling.  God was momentarily turning His face as every sin known to man was heaped on His Son.  The hours Christ spent on the cross represented the most significant moments since time began.

John and Mary’s grief, and confusion, were nothing compared to the awesome work accomplished that afternoon. However, the friend and the mother did not look through eternal eyes to “see” the work of the Savior.  They saw the impending loss of someone they loved and wanted nearby.  Still, Christ looked upon their suffering and said, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

Jesus knew they could not comprehend the greater glory at work.  He knew they wanted Him to climb down off the cross and live.  For their sakes, He could not suspend His glorious works, yet Christ’s heart poured forth compassion.

Dear ones, at times Christ will do glorious works that involve suffering and loss.  He persists in a greater glory even when we kick and scream and beg Him to do otherwise.  Why?  Because He will not allow us to cheat ourselves of something more marvelous than what we can conceive.  He knows one day we will understand.

Someday we will celebrate Christ’s unwillingness to give in to our demands—even when our begging broke His heart.  He is working the greater work.  Still, He has overwhelming compassion for our pain and confusion.  Christ doesn’t grow impatient and wonder how we can be so foolish to hurt over earthly losses. He doesn’t even sigh and whisper, “If you only knew.”  His heart bleeds with mercy and He comes to our aid.

Oh, Beloved, can you trust a heart like His?

King Jesus, my heart grieves over the suffering You endured on the cross
because of my sin.  Thank You for paying the unfathomable price for my soul. 
I praise You for the compassion You showed to Mary and John even while
You were in anguish on the cross.  Please give me the grace to walk through
times of suffering and loss.  Help me to have peace and trust You fully when I
cannot see the greater glory at work.  I want You to glorify Yourself in my life. 
In Your saving name, Amen.

He has done so much for us in this one compassionate,
merciful act upon the cross … 

 !!!

On the cross, His heart embraced the world,
His death set sinners free …
God’s plan was fulfilled, His love revealed,
on the cross of Calvary.

“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” 
{Ephesians 5:2}

Have a glorious Easter weekend!!
Hugs & Blessings,
~ Deborah