She Is My Sister

    She has hands that know the meaning of work, care and love. Her perfectly shaped and Austrian chocolate colored eyes seem to smile before her lips turn, but they have seen so much and pierced through the heart of her new family. Her plump lips aren't often in a smile. My Daddy had to teach her how to pick on him. She didn't like it at first but then it made her smile to poke him. She has waited on a forever family for four years.

    When anyone else would have lost hope, she held on.
When anyone else would have wondered if they were ever going to get to go home, she had patience.
     
         After seeing child after child and baby after baby go home with their mommies, she had faith.
After holding on, embodying patience and never loosing faith...

God has decided, in wonderful mercy, to give her to this crazy, Southern family that can't wait for her homecoming!

 Marigrace and Jim at a cookout hosted by their wonderful church!

 Grandmother and Uncle Keith this spring

 Noel and me at Christmas 2011

 Hope with her spaghetti bread at Christmas

 JubiLee teaching a friend/sister a piano song

 Jesse, Will and JubiLee blowing balloons at Easter

 Hope, Whitney-Faith and Marigrace "teaching" our friend, Jessie, to group waltz.

 Marigrace coming home from New York!

             

            And two of the craziest people in the world: My parents! 

I thank God for the tenacity in the faith, their boldness in obedience and their love for life inside God's will.

1979

I can't say enough about these two people.

They are strong, courageous, faithful...

gentle.

They never give up.

They never don't do what God wants them to do.

They. do. it.

Hard or not.

They love GOD,

they love people.

And they are my parents.

I don't know why God gave them to me,

but I am grateful He did.

I don't know where I would be

or

what I would do if...

God hadn't put them together in March of 1979.

And brought them here.

And made them my parent's.

Two people who have never given up on me.

The Embodiment of Strength

That is what this little bundle of joy.

Strength.

She is full of hugs and kisses, ready to share, or to just give away and never, NEVER expect ANYTHING back.

She is full of hope and perserverance.

She trusted and loved strangers that she embraced as family.

She didn't give up when she didn't understand a word we were saying, "What in the world is this spaghetti stuff you are feeding me?" is what she was probably thinking.

But she ate our food, she gave her hugs annd kisses to us; her hope spread out and filled our hearts.

She has taught me how to be Christ's hands and feet. How to wash the dishes and sweep the floor with spunk.

She laughs and you can't help but laugh with her.

She is a child; she is my sister. And oh, how grateful I am God gave her to me. Why he chose her to love me, I don't know but I am thankful for her!

We have our older sister/little sister moments but thats part of being sisters. We are kind of like sandpaper for each other. We rub off the rough spots on one another. She dances wether in a ballet outfit or jeans and we dance with her (or both).

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:6-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6jO7xhU_Pw

My Hero

I sure that many of you know, have met or at least heard me talk about my precious Grandmother. That just what she is: precious.

pre·cious 

1. of high price or great value; very valuable or costly: precious metals.

2. highly esteemed for some spiritual, nonmaterial, or moral quality: precious memories.

3. dear; beloved: a precious child.

4. affectedly or excessively delicate, refined, or nice

All of those definitions are just what Grandmother is. But not only is she precious but she is a saint in God's Kingdom. She is always encouraging other believer's by sending them cards, letters, or a phone call. A couple weeks ago this 91 year old beauty took a fall while coming in her back door after pitching out her scraps to the neighbors dog after supper. Thankfully someone was there soon after it happened. She journeyed to the E.R. and didn't get back home until 2 AM. She bruised her face and both legs. Her face and legs look much better now but its her arm that I envy your prayers for. There is a bone in her right arm just below her shoulder that is broken. Being 91 her docter doesn't want to have to do surgery, (which is a good thing) but he said he will take up to 3-6 months to heal. Along with her arm in a sling her legs ache every night.

But do you know what she is still doing? Sending sick people cards, calling people she knows can't get out. Everything she did before she is still doing; with a broken, bruised arm and acheing legs she is still:

reaching out to people,

loving them,

not giving up,

smiling, laughing,

and

being. my. hero.

She is brave and beautiful. Short and full of smiles. Loving and ready for a laugh. Honest and full of hope. content. peaceful. easy-going. a person that embodies Winston Churchill's ever famous qoute

"Never, never, never give up."

She is my Grandmother.

She loves me.

She is my hero.

Romans 13:14

The thought of starving something out, let filling a need or at times even a want, can seem harsh, brutal, irrational. In some cases that is true, but not always. I have been struggling with something spiritually for a long time. The thought of making no provision for it never crossed my mind until tonight:

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it's desires."

I struggle with lust. It is really hard to admit that but its true. I didn't realize it until just here recently but I struggle with wanting to be in control and wanting to know what is going to happen in the near future. I struggle with being patient with my siblings and disrespectful to my Mommy and Daddy. That is definitely the hardest to realize. I think that one hurts me the most. It makes me so mad when I have a bad thought, when I worry about what I am going to major in in college. To me, as a Senior in highschool, soon to graduate, I should have that question answered by now but I don't! When I am short with my sibling's or disrespectful to my parent's I always feel so stupid afterward. I need to remember "to make no provision for the flesh." To do nothing that would gratify MY fleshes desires.

This week, it is my prayer that in those times to "make provision for my flesh," that I will remember what Isaiah said,

"Look to the Lord and be saved..."

I don't know why I was prompted to write this but something did. I pray that this week you will be encouraged. As I try to remember to "Look to the Lord and be saved," I pray that you will also!

Psalm 18

This morning I was able to spend some time with my daddy. I got up before the sun and joined him in his run to the filling station before work. He filled his work truck up and bought us breakfast. I love spending time with my daddy. He is a gift. Having a daddy that loves you and encourages you is a gift that cannot be compared to anything. I love my daddy. When he comes home after working 12 hours in the woods it is not an uncommon occurrence to see him playing baseball with the boys and who ever else wants to join in. Daddy is a stubborn and strong man. He has always been patient with the 7 women that he lives with, soon to be 8. I am blessed and proud that I can say that my daddy is a example of Christ to me. He sacrifices all he does so that we can have the life we have. Daddy has always lifted me up; he has always encouraged me and been patient with me. He taught me how to argue, he taught us all how to. As little ones when we would learn to say "yes" he would say "no," and vice versa. He has taught me so much, about life, about persevering and doing what I know is right even if so many others think otherwise. That's what he has done his whole life, the next right thing. And to me, he is a great father because of the example he is following: Our Heavenly Father.

God is Father to all those who will call him such. He wants to protect us, at times, discipline us when need be, just like our earthly father, and ultimately, He loves us unconditionally . I know that there are more daughters in this world then I could count that do not have a father like mine. I can't imagine the emptiness that would be the result from that. But, I do know one thing, God, The Creator of the Universe, is your Father. He will protect you when you cry out to Him! Your voice will reach His ear and He will rescue you, He has stooped to make you great and He will walk in front of you with His Saving Shield. Let Him be your Father and walk with Him. Like my Mommy has said, "His plan is our protection."

¹ I love you, Lord. You are my strength.

² The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.
My God is my rock.
I can run to him for safety.
He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.
³ I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I will be saved from my enemies.

⁴ The ropes of death came around me;
the deadly rivers overwhelmed me.
⁵ The ropes of death wrapped around me.
The traps of death were before me.
⁶ In my trouble I called to the Lord.
I cried out to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my call for help reached his ears.

⁷ The earth trembled and shook.
The foundations of the mountains began to shake.
They trembled because the Lord was angry.
⁸ Smoke came out of his nose,
and burning fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals went before him.
⁹ He tore open the sky and came down
with dark clouds under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode a creature with wings and flew.
He raced on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his shelter around him,
surrounded by fog and clouds.
¹² Out of the brightness of his presence came clouds
with hail and lightning.
¹³ The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High raised his voice,
and there was hail and lightning.
¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
His many bolts of lightning confused them with fear.
¹⁵ Lord, you spoke strongly.
The wind blew from your nose.
Then the valleys of the sea appeared,
and the foundations of the earth were seen.

¹⁶ The Lord reached down from above and took me;
he pulled me from the deep water.
¹⁷ He saved me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They attacked me at my time of trouble,
but the Lord supported me.
¹⁹ He took me to a safe place.
Because he delights in me, he saved me.

²⁰ The Lord spared me because I did what was right.
Because I have not done evil, he has rewarded me.
²¹ I have followed the ways of the Lord;
I have not done evil by turning away from my God.
²² I remember all his laws
and have not broken his rules.
²³ I am innocent before him;
I have kept myself from doing evil.
²⁴ The Lord rewarded me because I did what was right,
because I did what the Lord said was right.

²⁵ Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal,
and you are good to those who are good.
²⁶ You are pure to those who are pure,
but you are against those who are bad.
²⁷ You save the humble,
but you bring down those who are proud.
²⁸ Lord, you give light to my lamp.
My God brightens the darkness around me.
²⁹ With your help I can attack an army.
With God's help I can jump over a wall.

³⁰ The ways of God are without fault.
The Lord's words are pure.
He is a shield to those who trust him.
³¹ Who is God? Only the Lord.
Who is the Rock? Only our God.
³² God is my protection.
He makes my way free from fault.
³³ He makes me like a deer that does not stumble;
he helps me stand on the steep mountains.
³⁴ He trains my hands for battle
so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
³⁵ You protect me with your saving shield.
You support me with your right hand.
You have stooped to make me great.
³⁶ You give me a better way to live,
so I live as you want me to.
³⁷ I chased my enemies and caught them.
I did not quit until they were destroyed.
³⁸ I crushed them so they couldn't rise up again.
They fell beneath my feet.
³⁹ You gave me strength in battle.
You made my enemies bow before me.
⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn back,
and I destroyed those who hated me.
⁴¹ They called for help,
but no one came to save them.
They called to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
⁴² I beat my enemies into pieces, like dust in the wind.
I poured them out like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You saved me when the people attacked me.
You made me the leader of nations.
People I never knew serve me.
⁴⁴ As soon as they hear me, they obey me.
Foreigners obey me.
⁴⁵ They all become afraid
and tremble in their hiding places.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives!
May my Rock be praised.
Praise the God who saves me!
⁴⁷ God gives me victory over my enemies
and brings people under my rule.
⁴⁸ He saves me from my enemies.

You set me over those who hate me.
You saved me from violent people.
⁴⁹ So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name.
⁵⁰ The Lord gives great victories to his king.
He is loyal to his appointed king,
to David and his descendants forever.

The 8th of November

He left home, but not just home, he left all those he loved. We all know that the only thing for certain is uncertainty. None of us know what is going to come of tomorrow but being shot at, or dropped in a jungle isn't at the top of our list. It was for the man who this song was written about. He and so many more left the ones near to their hearts to protect them. I have no idea what it is like to be surrounded by people that hate me with M-16's, or to jump out of plain while being shot at. I don't have a clue what any of that is like but I do know one thing: I am proud of those men and women. I am proud of the fact that I am an American; that I was born and raised in this beautiful country. Yes, there is a lot of wrong in America but God's blessing is still on this Nation or we wouldn't be here. God has and is blessing America. I am willing to bet that everyone who reads this woke up in America this morning and they knew exactly where their breakfast was. I woke up in America this morning and I am blessed! I hope you think you are too!

Said goodbye to his mamma

As he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White, and Blue.
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do.

He was dropped in the jungle
Where the choppers would rumble
With the smell of napalm in the air.
And the sergeant said, "Look up ahead"

Like a dark, evil cloud
1,200 came down
on him and 29 more.
They fought for their lives
But most of them died
In the 173rd Airborne.

(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.

Now he's fifty-eight
And his ponytail's grey
But the battle still plays in his head.
He limps when he walks,
But he's strong when he talks
About the shrapnel they left in his leg.

He puts on a grey suit
Over his Airborne tattoo
And He ties it on one time a year
And remembers the fallen,
As he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with his tears.

(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.

Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965.

(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.

(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around,
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.

The 8th of November
The 8th of November

He said goodbye to his mamma
As he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White, and Blue.
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do.

October 23-26, 1944-The Battle of Leyte Gulf

During these days, 67 years ago, the largest sea battle of WWII was fought. To some it is considered the largest sea battle in history. If so, I cannot imagine being there to watch it come into reality. The American Navy and Coast Guard along with the Australian Navy battled against the Imperial Japanese Navy. It is known as The Battle of Leyte Gulf. The American Ships were told if the IJN broke through into the Gulf, to run the ships aground, get off and try to survive. Cute, right? They were prepared, The Navy, The Coast Guard and so the IJN came to meet their enemy. The IJN were broad side to the US Navy so they turned to meet them head on. What the IJN did not realize was that one mile away sat World War I battle ships. When they turned away from the Navy, the Japanese put themselves broadside to the WWI battle ships. In doing so, the entire fleet was destroyed and the IJN force was never the same during the war.

I don't know how long it all lasted, I have never been told that part but what I have told you is nothing but the truth. I didn't read it out of a text book or Wikipedia. No. This account came from a First Cheifmens Boats Mate. It came from the lips of my Great GrandFather, my GrandPa. If he had been able to graduate highschool he would of been made an Admiral. This man served his country during the entirety of WWII. He was in the Coast Guard for 21 years and is proud of it!

My GrandPa saw all this happen. And he lived to tell his wife, his two son's, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. But GrandPa hasn't just LIVED his life, he has thrived. HE, a veteran is always giving to the Disabled Veterans Association. When he was able he was always volunteering. He has lived a life of constant giving.

After being retired for many years he finally got his dress blues. My Mommy was ordering them for him over the phone. In doing so she had to describe to a seamstress what his ribbons looked like. As she was describing the them, the woman became silent then she asked, "And he is still alive?" the answer was, "Yes!" Mommy would describe another and she would ask "Is he disabled?" "No Ma'am!" She knew what each ribbon meant so she knew all the places my GrandPa had been. She knew all that he had seen. She was silent for a while and then said to Mama, "Ma'am, after being in all these places, he should be dead." But, PRAISE GOD HE IS NOT! To me, that The Battle of Leyte Gulf was for me. My GrandPa, unknowingly was fighting to perserve my freedom. It ended on my birthday. My GrandPa loves me so much and has always said that he is proud of me but even though I told him yesterday, I don't think he will ever know how much I love him and how proud I am of him.

I beg you, if someone in your family is the military, don't EVER miss an opportunity to thank them. I was nervous about calling GrandPa yesterday but I did and I am so glad that I did! I encourage you to do the same! It will be a blessing to you and to them!