Jesus has Made my Life Beautiful!

As I am sitting here thinking about the name of my blog, yes, life IS beautiful but I am not the one who has made my life beautiful or anyone else on this earth. GOD and only GOD is the one who has made my life beautiful! He has blessed me with Family from all over the world (literaly!). He has given me opportunities to spread His promise, to help others, to love others, He has sent others to encourage me and get me out of my comfort zone. HE gave me two of the most amazing siblings that I thought were never going to get home and PRAISE THE LORD THEY ARE!!!!! He has given me new friends and friends that I already have to become closer. There has been heart break and hard times but those have taught me forgiveness, they have taught me to move on, to keep praying even when it seems like nothing is changing. Not everything has turned out like I thought or wanted it to, but, like everyone else, I had to learn to let God take care of it! And guess what? HE DID! You woud think that I would remember all the times He has taken care of me and I would let HIM DO IT! But no, I AM IN CONTROL (so I think)! And just like every other time, he just gently nudges me and gives me a little reminder and eventually I give to it Him and everytime I wish I had done it sooner (you would think I would remember!). Wow, I could go on and on about the ways He has made my life beautiful but I will stop here. I think I will do a series of posts with a few words and a picture of a way HE has made my life beautiful!

I hope you all have a beautiful and blessed week from Our Lord!!
Leah-Joy.

I Don't Know What to Say...

This past week we went to Louisiana on a mission trip, you talk about a blessing. God has given me the most amazing joy I can' describe it. You know how the Bible tells us that He will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding, God has given me a joy that surpasses all understanding, or, at least mine and that is fine with me because He has changed my heart and I hope and pray that I never change. As we sang "Victory in Jesus" this morning in church I LITERALLY COULD NOT STAND STILL!!! I just kept moving vack and forth and tapping my feet. It was awesome!!!! I felt so victorious!!!! The Holy Spirit really spoke to me in the second verse.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

After I sang it, I realized that the week before last, I was broken, I had broken myself away from God. So, He took me 500 miles away from home to bring me back to Him and jimany cricket, I don't ever want to leave Him again!!!!!

I hope that this has been encouraging and that it has helped you in some way!
May God make you joyful,
Leah-Joy.

PS. coming soon: a post of our trip to Louisiana!

Picture Perfect (post 200)

Buddy is growing into such an amazing young man. He now has cows pigs, and this summer he had an amazing garden. He has become even more of an amazing older brother to J Man and Sunshine and I am now looking up to him. He works so hard and becoming everyday more like our Lord. It is wonderful to see him fill the chivalric code of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave,pure and reverent more and more.

Dear Father,
Thank you so much for my brother. Thank you for allowing to look up to him even though he is younger then me.

Hey everybody! I just did a new post on my pro-life blog! If you could stop by and read it and leave a comment that would be great! Please tell your friends about it! Thanks!

God Bless,
Joy.

Fight for their lives

I Don't Know What to Title This One

Well, as you can tell, I have been out of blogger world for a while! Well, last saturday we were blessed with being ale to go to a Do Hard Things Conference (i talk more about that later). While we were there God told me that He had something big for me to do. And so, I was like, well, ok, whatever you say. Well, when He did start giving me signs about what He wanted me to do I got really scared! I told Him that he was going to have to keep giving me signs in order for me to this. Well, I guess He smiled and said, "Hey y'all, what this," and He did. And I guess I should of thought that it was amazing but, because what He wants me is so big the sighns scared me. I was hoping that I was making it all up and that I wouldn't see anything. Well, I saw alot. The mission He has given me is to bring abortion to an end in our state. And when He told that I was like "Well, that would be really hard, what if I fail and look dumb?" What is crazy is at the conference they talked how even FAILED EFFORT BUILDS MUSCLE! We have to kee going! I had shared with Small Group last Sunday that so mant great men in history were because they were stuborn and determined. Whinston Churchhill said to "Never, never, give up." He wasn't considered smart, he had a lipse, but what most people don't know is that he was the only man that Adolf Hitler was afraid of. A humble, determined servant of Christ, who never gave up. And when I thought those thughts of doubt I realized that I was being dumb and COMPLETELY contradicting myself. Let me share with you some f the sighns that He gave.

• In our history lecture our teacher talked about the sactity of life.
• I have seen the director of our Criss Pregnany Center' name twice this week.
• I am reading a book called "Just Do Something" and in it the author talked about Esther saving her people; last year I wrote a paper about Esther saving her people and how the babes of abortion are our people we need to save them.
• I was able to talk about Abort73 (a website who's mission s to raise aware in teens about abortion) on Wednesday night at church and it felt so awesome and I was thankful for that oppurtunity!
• Matthew 8:10,13 says, " As assuredly as I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel... 13Go your way and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."
• Before I read this I was very afraid, Matthew 8:26 says, "But He said to them, 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?' And there was a great calm"
• In the book I am reading for school the author talked about what miracles babies are!
• In "Just Do Something" the author sad that if you want a career in medicine, then do something that will honor God, "to not perform abortions." (talk about feeling like you were feeling being hit up side the head wth wrds!)
• And just now my sister told me that our cousns ran a marathon to help stop abortions.

So, yes, there it all is! I am so thankful for all the girs that listened to me tonight at Small Groups and all the girls who got so excted and wanted to join me! God is so awesome!!! As I was talking with them and as I have been writing this I have realized that I wll not be doing this alone, that even if I am physically alone, HE IS with me!!

So, we hope that maybe we can start by volunteering at our local Crss Pregnancy Center. And just a shout out to ny other girl who may read this and have a passion for innocent lives, please leave a comment and I would love to pray for you and would appeciate if you would pray for me. Thanks to all who took the time to read this. Please pray that God will guide so that I will do what need to do, one step at a time.

Thank you all so much for your support, encouragement and if you know anyone who wants to help fight this injustice and speak for those with no voice, please send this way and I would love to encourage them if I can, pray for, just form an online community of ACTIVE prolife young women, for we are either a child or an adult and God has called us to be adults and act as adults, so we need to do something adults would do.

Again thank you all so much for listening!

God Bless you!!

Joy.

Something That is Hard to Believe

It is so hard to believe that these two precious little ones will be home Monday morning. God has given us so much; He has taught us so much and the reward isn't even here yet and we all feel so blessed already! It is hard to believe that these two are ours, that they belong to us, they have OUR last name, he is my brother, she is my sister, I will share a room with her. The list could on and on. I just pray that I will be the sister that I need to be to them. I pray that I will a good example. I pray that I will know how to teach them, how to care for them. Sometimes I get to so scared that I will not know how to help them, teach them or have patience with them. Please pray that those fears will go away for I know in my head, "That the Lord has not given us the spirit of fear, but power and of love and a sound mind." And I just need to get that from my head to my heart.

God has blessed us with an awesome friend who is bringing the babies home Sunday. You can read all the story here. She went through so much!!!! Thank you Auntie Kami!!!

God bless and thank you all so much for all your prayers and support through this past year! Hopefully by Tuesday I will have new profile picture!!
Joy

While We Were in The Wilderness

While we were at the Wilderness we were able to have amazing Bible study time. Friday night our youth minister gave a sermon at the new chapel at the campground. It came from Numbers 14. Mr. Steve was talking about how God saved the Israelites from slavery; He saved us from the slavery of our sin. Then, the Isralites went to the dessert, but God had so much for them to have and experiece; God has so much more for us to have and experience. He doesn't just want to save us and then see us in heaven. He has something so awesome for us while we're still here on earth! He wants to have personal relationship with us! But to recieve that we must do hard things, get out of our comfort zones, obey His commands even when we are uncomfortable about doing whatever it is. The night before he talked about how, yes, God wants us to be comfortable but that isn't His main drive for us. He wants us to do His will for our lives and in doing that it will cause us to uncomfertable. But He will give us the strenth to do whatever it is. But, if we just want to be saved, go to heaven some day and not do what God as for us in the middle because we think that it will be to hard and that WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT, we are just hangin out in the dessert. We are just like the Israelites who are always complaining and thinking that they couldn't take the promise land. While in the dessert we can't see what God is doing. Mr. Steve asked us if we were seeing "stuff' in our relationship with Him, were we looking for God in our Bible time and was He showing Himself to us. If no, be honest with yourself and admit that you are in the dessert! The more he preached the more I realized that I was in the dessert. God had saved my soul, He has forgiven me and forgives me everyday, but I was in the dessert; I wasn't doing His commands; I wasn't doing hard or seeking Him in my Bible time. I wasn't trying to learn something every time the doors were open at church and I HAD TO CHANGE!!! AND PRAISE GOD!!!!! HE HAS RESTORED TO ME THE JOY OF HIS SALVATION!!!!! I knew that I felt different but I wasn't sure if others would see it and I so hoped that they would. God gave me proof. When we came Saturday, Mama looked at me and said, "You just look so happy. You just have this peace and contentment about you." And that is exactly how I felt. Mr. Steve said he struggled with going back to the dessert and just telling God that he had it all under control because he is a minister. And he said exactly how I felt. My sister's, Mama and Daddy are all so godly and I would just be like, "Oh I'm one of them." And that night I realized that I need to live up to the bar that they have set and really be one of them!

Thank you all for reading and please pray that I will follow God's commands for me.

God Bless,

Joy.

Chivalry

Nowadays you don't see much chivalry. But, I have been blessed to see it in friends and family quite a bit here lately.

We have heard that a girl's part of being chivalrous is accepting when a guy offers to do something. Well, for us independent girls at times it is hard to do that! Baby Girl especially. Well, the fella above, a friend of our cousin, did an act you rarely see, he gave Baby Girl his chair and would not take no for an answer. Baby Girl was not going to be left standing up!

This little cutie is my double first cousin. Two sisters married two brothers. Just the other Sunday he was at our house. When he walked by he noticed that I was leaning over my foot with a pair of tweezers. He asked what I was doing, I told him that I was trying to get a piece of glass out of my foot. He then took the tweezers away, put my DIRTY foot on his knee and ran his finger across my foot to find the glass. Then, he just pulled it right out! It made my week!!

You all know Buddy. He is growing up and maturing so much, so fast! And you all know that when we come home from the mission trip we are VERY TIRED! Well, the Friday we got home, Hope was looking for her dirty clothes. Buddy then walks into the kitchen, figures out our problem, and looks at Hope and says,

"Well, I hope that you like your clothes on heavy duty."

All on his own he got Hope's clothes, and started the washing machine!

I know that we all want to see more chivalry in our society, don't get me wrong, but girlies, half of chivalry is us; we have to accept it when a guy wants to help us! We have to say, "Thank you," when they want to give us their chair. Baby Girl could have stood up; I could have gotten the glass out of my foot and Hope could have washed her own clothes, but these three young men wanted to help us. And in helping us, it made them feel needed and us feel loved. Accept it when a guy wants to help you. When he does ask, it doesn't mean that he thinks that you are incapable of doing whatever it is, he just wants to be the man that God is molding him into and we need to accept it so that God can mold us into the women that he wants us to be.

God Bless,

Joy.

Hard Times and Patience

Psalm 70:20

You have given me many troubles and bad tmes, but you will give me new life again.

James 1:2-4

2My brothers and sister, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, 3because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. 4Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.

Louisiana Mission Trip, Part 2

This post is about Sunday and Monday. Sunday is always a really great day. Well, all of them are great days, but every Sunday is great because is the day that the Lord has set aside for rest! And boy do we take advantage of that! The Lord really blessed this trip, as he does all of them.

Sunday afternoon the church fed us an amazing lunch! Man, Louisiana folk know how to feed a crowd with their Cajun cooking!
We all have to wear our Carpenters For Christ shirts. They aren't the best looking things, but, we make a joke out of them.

A very sweet lady from their church offered to take out n the town. She took us to the Red River walk and the Board Walk (an outdoor mall that was like a little village). IT was GREAT!!!!!
And THEN...
We went to Bass Pro!!! It was so great! There was a Sonic inside the store AND it was HAPPY HOUR! All of their slushies are half off! It. was. so. great!!! Uncle JR. bought us all one.
THANKS Uncle JR.!!!

Monday morning all the guys and men the roof at 5:30 to beat the heat. They said that they were going to quite at about 10:30, but, needless to say, they finished at lunch! They did not want to stop until it was done!

These are the three stooge's and hair stylists.
Individually known as, Whit, Lil' Darlin' and Pooh Bear.

We all love putting up sheet rock! It so much fun and according to Chris, third from the left, claims that if there are three girls nailing up the sheet rock, six hammers fly by! We had a great time and love working with each other and for the Lord!

More to come...

God Bless,
Joy.

Louisiana Mission Trip 2009 part 1

This years trip was a milemarker for me. Thursday night we always have "awards ceremony." It is a time where we embarass everyone who is new and has done a little something embarassing. Well, after that we have communoin. Right before we had communion I stepped forward to give my life to the Lord and asked Him to save me from the firery depths of hell. I had been doubting my salvation since about May and, on Thursday, June 18th, I was able to nail it down! God has saved my soul and I am completely His!

He did so much for us on this trip, as he always does. He blessed us with strength and energy. It was an amazing trip and the church was so thankful for us to be there. I will tell you about the trip in a couple posts because there is no way that I could do it in one. So, I will start with Friday and Saturday.

Friday morning we left a local church here in our community at about seven.

Hit a local truck stop for biscuits and then hit the road.

As you can see these hard working young men are replacing a tire. Well, to summ it up, God really had his hand the van that all of us young people were on. We were probably about five hours away from our destination and come to find out, the tire on our rental van was warped!
So, thankfuly we had already planned on stopping at church we had worked on years back and while there, we discovered the spare was even in worse condition! So, a member of the church went and got another tire for us!
And, you know how Satan will throwe firey darts at you? Well, this next thing that happened to us was almost literaly a firey dart. As we were riding down the interstate, people were bushhogging on the side of the road. A piece of rubber got caught in one of the bushhoos and was blown out. It flew up and hit the end of the van. This peice of rubber put a dent in the van right above the back right tire.
God kept us so safe!

Then we settled in on Friday night and a yummy super was fed to us by the church memebers. Saturday moring we (us girls) started putting up insalation!!! YuKK!! But, we had something to do, so, that is always nice. While we did that,

the guys were on the roof! Glad that I wasn't up there. They worked so hard in the heat, but, thankfuly for a lot of the time it was overcast so that helped out a lot.

Saturday night a sweet little couple from their church invited us to their diner! It was so great!

Have you ever seen six girls sitting at one booth?

Think it won't work?

Well, we made it work! It was such a blast! The whole week was.

After a DELICIOUS supper of fried catfish, AMAZING hushpuppies, fries, slaw and cake, there was pickin' and grinnin'!

The evening was ended with Amazing Grace.

Philippians 4:6-7
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God bless!

Your new sister in Christ,

Joy.

Thank you

• Going to church
• Blowing bubbles with a little one
• Going on a Mission for God in Louisisana
• Being with my family
• Having reunions
• Blogging whatever I want
• Shopping
• Fishing with my little brother's
• Spending a day in the kitchen
• A night on the town with my sister's
• Watching a movie with my family
• Driving my Daddy's Ford

This list could go on and on. What is the list for you ask? It is things that I know that I do and don't even think about them. Today I have thought a lot about them and why we CAN do them. We CAN do them because of what I and my brothers and sisters and mama witnessed this morning. The homecoming of a fallen soldier. This brave, 21 year old Sargeant left his home and family to go fight for you and me. Not knowing at all what the future held. Sure, none of us know what our future holds, but he was going to a land where he was hated and going to be shot at WITHOUT MERCY. A land where his brother's are dying for others who don't even care anymore. You and I are safe, here in our homeland, the motherland. He left his young wife and newborn son. A couple weeks ago I was at the docters office with my grandmother. As we left I saw an older gentlemen, nicley dressed witha cap on that said, "Veteran of Vietnom." AS we left, I hesitated and then thanked him for his service to our country. After I told him thank you, he thanked me for thanking him. Mama and Daddy have taught me and my siblings to thank these men and obviously, they don't get thanked enough. I not to brag or anything, I just want to give you something to think about. Thank a soldier when you see one. As I write this I wonder if Sgt. Jordan was ever thanked; I hope that he was. I haven't cried like I did this morning at the airport in a long time. I kept thinking of his familiy, his young wife and 1 year old son who's birthday is the day that his life was taken. June 4th. I also kept think of the "This is just a dream" by Carrie Underwood . How I wish that had been a dream, but it wasn't. It was real. IT IS REAL! Please keep his family in your prayers. Please for all of our troops.

Thank you for taking time to read, and, if you take the time to thank a soldier,

Thank you again.

Remembering Memorial Day

Memorial Day was designed for those that this soldier is saluting: the fallen. The ones that gave their lives so that me and you could be here today. I can't imagine being one who has lost a loved one. My Great Grandfather was in the Caost Gaurd for 21 years, active duty. AT one time he was away from his wife and two sons for 22 MONTHS. He sacrificed so much. In one incident, he put his own life in danger in order to try and save a fellow gaurdsmen. And he did. If it hadn't been for him that man would have died. My Grandpa IS a HERO.

But But, others did make it home. Like my Grandpa and this man and many more. But there are more who didn't make it home. I have written the song below for those who did make it home. If any service man happens to read this, thank you so much for your sacrifice. You re in my prayers everyday and I pray that God's hedge of protection will be with you.

God Bless,

Joy.

As I stepped on the train with my Bible in hand

The first thing I saw was a soldier man

Sittin' all alone

I took a seat as we started along,

and asked if he'd been gone long

And he looked at me and said,

Chorus

My Mama loved me to death

But to my Daddy my ears were deaf

Ever since I was eighteen I been gone

Joined the Army and never been back home

He looked at me with tears in his eyes

and said, "I told 'em I wasn't comin' back after I said my goodbyes

I wrote my Daddy and asked if he could forgive and forget

So I'm headin' home but I hadn't heard from 'em yet.

But I said if he had to tie a yellow flag

To my Mama's apple tree that always sags.

But I'm nervous as a shakin' leaf,

cause,

Chorus

Now we're nearin' home and

I'm afraid I still might be alone

This is my home town here all about

Around the bend is the apple tree and I can't bear to look out

Sir, would you look at the tree,

And see if my Daddy has forgave me

I leaned out the window and saw a sight

And I grinned like a kid flyin' a kite

And looked at the soldier man and said

"Everyone is welcoming you home lad,

And it's not just a rag

On your Mama's apple tree that sags,

That tree is completely yellow

Surrounded by folks by folks full of love for a fella

Cause...

Your Mama loves you to death

And your Daddy has forgave and forgot

You won't be gone and alone anymore

You can stop running in those boots

Everyone in town is ready for you to return to your roots!

While I'm Waiting

As you can see I have made some changes to my blog. The name, my "about me" and my music. This past year God has REALLY changeed my heart. For such a long time I wanted to be a nurse and work at the hospital, and even though that is what I wanted to do I was still not sure how I would be a mom too. Well, that was because I was not in the Lord's will. In June of 2008 I did the most important thing that I will ever do. I gave my life to the Lord! He has changed me so much and I am so thankful! He has changed my heart now, to where, even though I have no idea where I am going to college, what I am going to major in or anything like that, He has given me a peace that I would not take anything for because I know that if I am in His will He will take care of me and I will be safe! Now, that I am no longer wigging out over getting sciance and math perfected because I know that nursing is not what He has for me to do. My love for cooking has been able to grow, my love for my Daddy and Mama and my whole family, my love for babies and kids, and most important, my love for Him and my relationship with Him has been able to bloom! And I don't want it to change! It is so amazing! I am so thanful that He has saved my soul from the lake if fire called hell and that He wants to be MY father! I hope that I never get over my salvation. I am now trying to have peace with the unknown, do what I need to do now, when I have time prepare myself for whatever He has for me to do. I am so glad that He has changed my heart. Now all that I want to do, if it be His will, is get married, have a family and raise my children for Him! And I think that He has put that on my heart.

It is so interesting to see the ways that God chooses to teach us things. I don't think that I am a very patient person, but through this, He has taught me patience. He is ALWAYS teaching me to use my mouth for Him and not to show off with my witt. Sometimes things that I think up as a reply to something someone has said, to worldy standards, are very witty, but, in no way would they honor God. He is teaching me to just SHUT my mouth and let the Spirit tell me what to say or, just to not say anything at all!

Sometimes while I am waiting I get scared. What if I don't get married, what I go to the wrong college, major in the wrong, or just do something COMPLETELY out of His will. Then I realize that all I am doing is worrying and doing so is a sin! Even though I am just in the ninth grade and know that I need to wait and that God will send him I wonder if I will get married because I don't have boyfriend right now. So many girls my age have a boyfriend, and sometimes I just feel sorry for them and then sometimes, I want to be like them because it seems easier. God has helped me so much in giving me a peace that if I do wait and put ALL matters into His hands He will do "exceedling, abduntely, far more then I could ever imagine!" And I am so glad of that! I have no idea what I would do without Him. He has helped me to become a set apart woman for Him.

Thank you all for reading this and I don't know why, but I just really felt like God had me write this for someone. I have no idea who, but, I hope that it has helped someone. Giving my life to the Lord is the best thing I will ever do, and it is the best thing ANYONE can do because, God loved the world so much He sent His only Son so that We would not be eternely seperated from Him, and to this day, He loves us just as much as He loves His Son Jesus! WoW!! That IS AWESOME!!! That is indescribable!

May you be blessed by our Merciful Savior!

My Granddaddy...

I have no idea where these children are, who they are or how old they are but, I do know one thing. It looks as though, everyday they went through the exact same toil that my granddaddy did.
Up until he was nine years old, he and his family lived in town and then the moved to the country. In one day they all walked at least 20 miles, carrying all their stuff, which was not much. Graddaddy told daddy that that night he cried himself to sleep when he finally did go to sleep. Granddaddy picked cotton, went to school only up to the fourth grade and so many other that would take forever to name that no child should ever have to do. Not only did he have to pick the cotton at their house, but in order to pay for the house, they worked for other people. The three oldedest daughters worked in town, so at the young and tender age of 12, granddaddy's older sister had to take care of the babies and the house. Granddaddy told daddy about many nights when he would go to bed hungry. This is only a little piece of what Granddaddy went through. I never knew him but him and daddy were very close and Daddy talks about him all the time and loves telling us about him. When Granddaddy got married he bought the old homeplace where he had grown up and the land across the road. Graddaddy and Grandmother raised four wonderful children and were themselves faithful children of God's Kingdom. Grandmother still is but Granddaddy is now with the rest of his family and in the presence of Christ. With all that he went through, he of all people, had a right to be bitter, but he wasn't! When I get mad, or want to be bitter towards someone, I need think of him and his attitude.
With all that he went through Granddaddy left Daddy 86 acres, his younger brother 86 acres and then a whole other farm to his oldest two children and a house for Grandmother.But the sad and amazing thing is, is that he died unexptedly and left all this! And Grandmother was always right there with him. I hope and pray that I can be like my Grandmother and Mama and that my brother's can be like my daddy and Granddaddy. They went through so much so that I could be here today.

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for all that you have given to me and my family.

Thank you so much for all that Granddaddy left for daddy and the rest of his children.

Thank you for the lagacy that he left.

Amen.

As I was writing, I was reminded of something else that Granddaddy did. Anywhere we go and older people don't know who we are and we say that we are Ralph's grandchildren, most of the time they know exactly who he was and the conversation turns into what a good person he was. And because of his honesty and godly character people respect Daddy and the rest of his children. He did so much! Thank you granddaddy!

Update from Mama!!

Hey everybody! Mama coundn't email today b/c all the computers were down but she was able to call!!! YaYY!!! She said that J Man and Sweet Pea call her Mama! That makes her so happy!! sHe said that she is teaching J Man how many brothers and sisters he has and how old he. She will ask him how old he is and he will hold up three fingers, "No," she will say b/c ne is four, then she will ask him how namy sisters he has and we will four! She is having such a great time!!! She said that Sweet Pea is pretty quiet and will not ask to be held but if you ask to hold her, she will ask to be put down. SHe also said that J Man is an out going little guy, but, loves to be with you anf hold your hand!

Thank you all for your support and especially all of your prayers!

God Bless,
Joy.

Day 1 for Mama in Ghanan: They are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

WOW! A long flight, no sleep, freezing cold plane, great company on the plane and nice conversations - it is all like a dream. The attendants were very kind. Maybe it was just me, but the whole world was happy!! We arrived in Ghana to 75 degree temp with a nice breeze. Our driver is Donny,and is just great. We got some bread and water, and then came straight to Eban House. We interrupted school. I held Jubilee first, and Uncle Bobby held Jesse. Then we held them both, took lots of pictures, said lots of "I love you" s and just tried to actually believe that we are here. In less than 5 minutes, Jesse had my sunglasses on his head and knew how to operate the camera. Jubilee never left my lap, and I could feel her little arm around my back. She seems lighter but taller than Jesse. Jesse has a twinkle in his eye that reminds me of Levi. He is smart and active, and loved the books, Hope. They all did. Jesse brought the books out one at a time to the wooden table to his friends. He really shares well. the driver had to take us to the Guest House to unload our bags, and then we walked back. When I walked through the living room area to go to the office to email home, I heard a little voice saying, "Mama...." and Jesse and Jubilee were walking towards me. Uncle Bobby smiled and said, "That was sweet!" And it was. There are so many things that are so different. Lots of markets out in the open. Lots of people walking around with baskets on their heads. The main thing is that I am with the babies. They are so beautiful. They are so sweet. We are very blessed to have these two precious ones in our lives. They keep looking at the pictures over and over. Jubilee likes the upstairs dormer windows. Muna showed Jesse the picture of Eben and Daddy, and Jesse pointed and said, "MY Daddy." Jubilee loves to be held. Jesse likes to be close, too, but he is a busy boy. This is a wonderful day. I'm in Africa. It is a beautiful place. The people are so sweet. Jesse has been sitting by my side while I use the office lap top. He told me he wants a biscuit - it's from seeing the cooking pictures. He is tired of waiting, so I'm going to go for now.

May Have Your Attention Please...

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From a Thanful Heart...

It really is a blessing to be homeschooled. Well, as part of our school, Mama requires that we take piano. Well, sometimes I really don't like to take piano and just think of it as a pain! The other day we were in town and I had my recital book with me, it needed to be bound. As we stood in line waiting to get my book back this sweet little lady came up and wanted some pictures of her granddaughter copied. As she got the pictures out I looked at her hand. On her right hand, she had only a thumb. That really made me think. I was like, "You are standing here, getting your piano book fixed and you are complaining about it! And here is a lady with only one finger on her right hand." That made me really thankful, not only that I can play the piano, but that I have all my fingers, that I am healthy and have the opportunity to take piano. When the sales associate handed me my book back, the little lady's husband asked me what kind of music it was. I told him it was piano and that we were homeschooled. He then told me that when he was little he had the opportunity to take piano but he didn't want to and now he wishes that he could play and his wife said that I better be thankful that I know how to play. I am now trying to be ever so thankful for the opportunity to learn and play the piano.

Thank you Lord,
For my mother who has taken the time to stay at home with me and teach me,
and for my daddy who makes the sacrifice so that I can take piano lessons.
Amen.

Life is Precious

Life is precious, priceless, a gift and so much more. This is what was the minds of many Thursday, January, 22nd. In that many was me, Grace*, Hope, two dear friends and two pasters, as we stood on the lawn outside the courthouse in our town and prayed. You may ask why we did this, Thursday, January 22nd, 1973 the case of Roe vs. Wade was settled. Abortion was made legule on this day. Now, thirtysix years later, this slaughter of innocent lives has killed 43 million children. This is why we gathered and prayed. We prayed that this act of abortion would be aborted, that the ones who have done this would be forgiven, that those considering to do this would be set on the right path, that we, as Christians, in a free nation would have the courage to take a stand against this act of murder. We prayed for the hearts of the leaders of our nation, that they would be softened, that they ask for forgiveness and that they would have the wisdom to do what it will take to lead our country in this crisis. And that our country must be brought to its knees and if bringing us to our knees with our economy and finances, then, let it be! Please join me in praying for President Obama, Vice President Biden, Sec. of State, Mrs. Clinton and all the many others. What all they believe we know is not right, but, who changed his heart right before he died and was still forgiven? The theif on the cross. If that theif, who commited crimes and was condemned to death because of them and still asked for forgiveness, humbled himself and was forgiven, then anyone can! Please, if you feel so led, please join me in praying for our nation, abortion, the leaders of our nation and the new genaration that is rising up, that we would have the courage to stand during this time of crumbling and hold our standards high for the Lord!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am humbled at the fact that Christ forgave me and loves me and is preparing a place for me. He has forgiven me and He will forgive anyone!

God Bless,
Joy.
"There are two things that I am sure of. That I am a great sinner. And Christ is a great Savior!"
Amazing Grace.