End of School Year Busy

I haven't posted in a while because it is the end of the school year and portfolios are due. Both of my children will be going on to the next grade, however they will have extra help and support in the areas they need to work on. My son's teacher called yesterday and we were able to clear some things up and find a way to simplify the writing process for him. This is great since the hold up on his writing is him not wanting to take the time to write all of his thoughts down. He has a wonderful imagination and has done very well on his poetry writing this week. A 10 year-old boys poems can be very interesting to say the least. I think he really likes that they can be as silly and nonsense as he likes.
My daughter has struggled in her reading all along. She is going on to the next grade because they don't believe it will help to hold her back again. I called Sis Lori P and she gave me some wonderful advice. It is working very well, Thanks so much!! Sometimes I just need to remind myself that her reading may bloom later and that it will be as well with her than as it could be now. She loves stories and has a very inquisitive mind and great comprehension. I just can't wait for the day that the light bulb comes on for her. I see flickers of it from time to time so I'm sure the day is nearing ever closer.
Well back to the school day..............

SADNESS AND REJOICING

We made a trip to California this weekend to try and be a comfort to some dear friends who lost a son and brother. He was hit head-on on his way home from work. It was so unexpected he left a wife and little daughter. His life was full of many things, however he hadn't been baptized or going to church. He figured he had plenty of time. Two brother's in our church preached at the funeral. It had to have been hard since they knew him real well. He was a good man and had many friends. Their was somewhere between 300 and 500 people present at his funeral. The saddest part to me was that he had done so much with his life, but neglected the most important part.
Sunday at church they preached on getting busy on doing the things you want to get done since you don't know how much time you have. Also on choosing what you want to accomplish in your life. Some of the family was there and there were some testimonies about the brethren being there for you during the hard times. The times when you just don't understand the why or reason for things. The man that died had so much time ahead, or so it would have seemed.
The rejoicing came some during the meeting but more so afterwards. A young lady gave her hand to the father of the man who had died. Their was a long moment of silence with Joy written on every ones faces. Tears of Joy were rolling down the faces of everyone. At the waters edge the brother who had lost his son said that this was the first step in helping him in the loss of his son. After the baptising, laying on of hands, and dismissal prayer another young lady gave her hand to the 1st young ladies dad.
We rejoiced so much!!! We went to be a comfort, just making a last minute decision to do so. And the treasures that we have stored up from the time spent with our brethren. Sharing in their sorrow and joy. I felt that we had made another payment or 2 on that home up in heaven. I also felt that we had built up, shored up the building blocks of our children's faith. It is so wonderful to hear the same things preached from assembly to assembly. The same things taught on the floor that we teach in our homes. It seems that lately the things that have been on our minds, that we've discussed with our children, have been brought forth in the meetings we have set in.

Tea Please

A friend sent this to my husbands email. I thought it was funny.

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and had just recovered from an accident. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.
Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.
My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.
Then she says, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet?'

LIFE, FAITH, & GOD'S MERCY

God knows just what we need and often supplies it before we even ask.

Travis' check about a month ago was about $400 more than it should have been.

When Travis showed this to his bosses they said it was a company mistake and not to worry about it. So Travis' mom calls about this same and is coming out. She wanted us to take her to Prosser so that she could spend some time with her brother, Bro. Benny Easter. The children and I were able to take her up there and the following weekend we went back up and spent some wonderful time with her as a family. We took her back to the airport on Wednesday after she spent a couple days with us. Uncle Ben died on Friday and Travis' mom headed back down right after attending her best friend, Sis Twila's funeral on Saturday. She left at 5:30 Sunday morning. This time it was by car and a quick trip. We were able to go back up to Prosser for the funeral and spend a little more time with her and the family.

It seems that a lot has happened in our lives lately. The children are quite a bit behind in school work but catching up. Its at times like these when I'm thankful that we home school and are able to go and do these things. We just need prayers that we can get caught up and back on track.

Travis has taken it upon himself to set up a list for brethren to stay up with Eric at night. A brother from Harrisburg and him are making a list, each assembly taking 3 nights at a time since both of our assemblies are small. Travis has been sick and unable to go see Eric much less sit up with him for about 3 weeks now. He is really looking forward to sitting up tomorrow night since it has been so long.

A Bro. Mark from Boise Idaho called this morning and felt like coming up and being of some help with and to Eric. When he called, Travis was at work but I called him back, invited him to dinner and encouraged him to come on if that was what he felt like doing. Bro. Bill Hays joined us for dinner and we were able to sit in heavenly places, talking on faith and God's mercy. I think maybe something controversial may have came up in the beginning. However my husband quietly said that we could "nit pick over the word and pick each other apart or not" both Bro Bill and Bro Mark agreed and they then proceeded to talk on Faith, Miracles, & God's Mercy.

I feel that if nothing else we have been blessed by Bro Mark's visiting in our home. It never ceases to amaze and astound me how God works in each and every one of our lives.

One time a young college student studying to be a minister came by and asked Travis and I some questions. It was for a school assignment. I'm not sure how we got on the subject of miracles but we did. This young man, about the same age as we were at the time, said that the miracles written about in the Bible died with the apostles. I said, "Oh how sad". I don't remember if I elaborated or not but knowing me I probable did. I know I didn't go into much detail though. But how blessed are we, who take it for granted, that the miracles spoken of in the bible still happen today?

To be able to call upon the Lord and in an instant be healed, or have the pain leave our bodies. To see the dead rise and breath again. It seems like now more than every we are in need of these miracles, and they are there for the asking, if we only have faith and believe.

Sara and her husband have been staying with us for a few weeks now. We've really enjoyed having them. I've been able to get up with Travis and go walk in the Mall early in the morning. They will be leaving us however to get things ready for the baby. We will surely miss having them in our home. They plan on being around a few weeks after the baby comes and then head back home to JD's family. We will really miss them then.
We were able to sit in a wonderful meeting in Eugene Wednesday evening. It lasted nearly 3 hours with talks, ministry, and testimonies of God's goodness. How that the brethern are different from the world. How that we will drop everything and be there for a comfort, support and any way that we can. I could tell that Sis Brandi was having a difficult time. I was very proud of how she had her children in church. She testified close to the end of meeting. She said that she prayed for words to speak to her children. She felt that what went forth that night was just what her children needed to hear. She also said that it was 4 months to the day and she'd almost didn't come to church. She surely still needs our prayers.
Eric has had his pills destroyed and is not doing well now. He's asking for prayers that he will have peace. It seems there is so many who need prayers, and again so many that God has been with. My dad is doing much better. I think one of these days he's going to get sick and not get better. It seems that each time is worse. So as you can tell the meeting that we set in was just for my benefit as anyone elses. Travis's uncle from Oklahom made a talk about the seeds and the sower. He also instructed us to look into our hearts, that we knew what our work was and to be up and about it.
Travis just got a prophecy about a week ago. It was very short but told him what his work was. That he'd been asking. I told him if he'd asked me I could have told him, but I guess we need to hear from the father. It did make me think of how I need to work on being a better helpmate to him and what I could do to encourage him and help him.
Please keep us in your prayers and we'll continue praying for all of you.

A Housefull of Blessings

Thanksgiving day we had a housefull or should I say apartment full of blessings. My Dad, Mom, Jay, Sara, Josh , Alicia and their children came to share Thanksgiving with us. Josh cooked 2 delcious Turkeys. I think I liked the smoked one best. mmm good.
Well we watched the Santa Clause 2 and were almost done when Bro. JD came by. We turned off the TV and told the children that the movie was not as important as visiting. Travis had also rented Santa Clase 3.
Bro JD was just what we needed. We sat in heavenly places and visited for a long time. Sometimes its so easy to forget the blessings and works that God has wrought in our lives and others. The visiting was so much better than the movie.
Edgar stayed with his cousins and our girls had 2 of their girl cousins stay over Thanksgiving eve. The next morning I took the girls to JoAnns to pick out flannel for nightgowns and doll nightgowns. They helped cut them out and I sent the cousins home with theirs, their sisters, and 2 of the doll ones Saturday evening. My bottom was sooo sore from sitting at the sewing machine most of Saturday. Little Kathy's wide eyed enthusiasm made it all worth it. She wore it to bed that night and all day Sunday.(Some of her family was home sick on Sunday)
I'm nearly done with the nightgowns and now have flannel to make pajama bottoms for the boys. Now I couldn't leave them out could I?
Needless to say I will be very busy between now and Christmas. Thankfully most of my shopping is done, now all I have to do is the sewing. May God bless you with his Greatest blessings this holiday season and the years to come!!!

Blessings

Reading other peoples posts have helped me count my blessings.
I'm not very good at words, but here goes.................

• I'm thankful for the trials Travis and I have faced. They've strengthened our marriage and commitment to God.
• I'm thankful for my son, we've had our problems but I can see were he really tries to please his Dad & Mom. I'm thankful for his questions and imput on the bible.
• I'm thankful for our oldest daughter. For the connection we have after wondering how to learn & know her.
• I thank God for the sisters who were with me during her birth. That they came by in love & kindness to instruct me to start giving her formula. I'd just been on my knees in my secret place asking for guidance. Here they came totally prepared.
• Also thanks for the times untold I'd call Sis Rosalee during a 1 hour feeding for her encouragement in making Syble eat.
• I'm thankful for all the mother's I've had in the faith.
• Thanks for my Mother-in-Law who taught me the importance of family.
• For my little "Melody" who is constantly singing praises to God from her heart.
• For Travis who somehow sees and knows all my weaknesses and shortcomings and still thinks I'm the greatest woman in the world.
• For parents who taught me the Love of God, his people, and the Faith.
• Thanks and praise to God that he saw me and chose me to be his child.
• Thanks to my sisters who've caught me short a time or two and taught me lessons on love and family.
• Thanks to God for taking me through the dark times and reminding me were I've been and were I could be.