Every muscle in my body is screaming!

Today we worked in the yard! Oh, it is lookin' good! I planted lots of color we bought at Lowe's yesterday, lots of bulbs from a dear older 'sister' who has already home with the Lord, and one lone plant I have saved and moved to several different houses of my precious Maw-Maw's (who is also already in heaven making signs for me to welcome me in!) That was my favorite planting of the day. I hope it makes it! It is rare 'tamed' violet that makes beautiful ground cover. I have never seen it except in her yard until yesterday - there were some at Lowe's. I couldn't resist buying several. But my favorite is still that 'one'. As I planted it, I looked up at Rick and quoted my 'Grammy' verse: (Psalm 78) 'We will tell the next generation...' We both laughed and smiled at the tenderness of that moment. He knows.

We leave all our plants to grow in our absence. Tomorrow, we are heading to New Mexico. Our kids will come Monday and I can't wait! We have never done the mountains before - I am beach-kind-of-girl. But I am so excited about hiking in the mountains! - with my precious, precious family!!!!!! YEA!!!!

Psalm 71

Today is my birthday and want to share a passage that I claim as mine for the next year and maybe beyond. Psalm 71 speaks my heart -- I will type through my tears - sometimes authenticity makes me cry. Just the unveiling of my heart, I guess. (I am choosing to leave out a few verses here and there.)

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in Your righteousness; turn Your ear to me and save me. Be my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the evil and cruel men.

For You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise You.
I have become like a portent to many, but You my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with Your praise, declaring Your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.

...as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of Your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone.

Since my youth, O God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?

I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God;
Iwill sing praise to You with lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You --
I, whom You have redeemed.
My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long.



Now aren't those some words to use to celebrate a 49th year of life!

"Blessed"

This may feel kinda wierd to read because this is going to sound more like a diary than a blog. I have so much that I never want to forget about the last two weeks. (Keep it short, Bevie, keep it short!)
It was such a treasure in this mother's heart to be in Abilene with Jonathan as he finished up at Southern Hills. I love worshipping the Lord with my kids!!!! He is an amazing leader! Wed. night at his final HIP (High Imact Praise time), the praise team sang 2 songs he had written. INCREDIBLE!
Jennifer is looking so cute! Jedidiah is a much anticipated little baby! We saw the sonogram - we could actually see him wriggling as much as his daddy did! I can already tell he is a little doll!

It was also a treasure in my heart to get to spend time with Josh and Kayci. Rick and I stayed with them and were so appreciative of their sweet hospitality! Rick had to leave on Tuesday but I got to stay until Friday. I loved our late night chats and snacks! I LOVED walking across campus with Josh and watching an elder from Southwest Central in Houston tell Josh over and over how much they wanted him to come there to work with them! I LOVED Kayci asking every night what my favorite part of the day was!

Another treasure in my heart was coming home to lots of sweet, sweet notes that our Wed. night ladies' class wrote to me. The Lord and I shared a special time of reflection and precious sweetness as He reminded me that I am loved by Him and them!

I had another treasure when I picked up Malaya and we went out to eat and to see Curious George. She is such a wonderful buddy! She spent the night with me and we enjoyed lots of giggles!

Jonathan started at Bammel Road a week ago! Yesterday was his first Sunday. Cool: He got to pick up Mark Schultz at the airport Saturday.
Josh and Kayci made the decision to join the Southwest Central Church of Christ in ministry in June. Josh will be the pulpit minister for them! I'm so glad I got to meet some sweet folks from there.
Jenny has made a decision that I will be able to talk about tomorrow. I'm so proud of her! She is an extremely gifted young woman. I constantly learn from her! She and David are the best parents ever!!!!

I feel like I have put gift bows on the tops of these young heads and presented them to three churches with their mother's prayer of blessing. Serve the Lord's kingdom well, precious ones! He has gifted you each in abundance for His glory! I am blessed to have a front row seat to your lives! Your mother loves you and ... well, I do not have the verbal skills to tell you how proud I am! I love the Lord and I praise Him for putting His fingerprints all over you! Wear them well!

Last Thursday night, we went out to eat with our Bible study group. The girls gave me a precious gift. It is a necklace with a pendant that says 'Blessed'. I am soooooo blessed!

Blessings are coming!

Do you ever just know it - that you are about to step into a few days of sitting amongst God's handiwork? A time that you just know that you are going to bear witness to events that will leave you in thanksgiving for a lifetime?
Today we leave for Abilene. We will be staying with Josh and Kayci which is always a joy and very relaxing. We will worship with Jonathan and Jennifer tomorrow which is always a joy and refreshing. Jonathan will lead worship tomorrow at Southern Hills and will be traveling on to begin his full-time ministry with the Bammel Road Church of Christ in Houston. What a blessing Phil Ware and others at Southern Hills have been for Jon and Jen! Rick and I are very grateful they have had such an amazing launch pad for ministry!
Then, Monday, the lectures begin! I have all my classes chosen and am so excited over the possibities for spiritual bread! I have spend days pouring over the choices!
Wednesday and Thursday I am attending a Forgiveness workshop offered by ACU's Marriage and Family Dept.! Should be awesome! (It is being conducted by Dr. Everett Worthington.)
Wednesday night I am going to go with Jonathan back to Southern Hills for a night of praise. They will be doing at least a couple of songs he wrote! This mother can't wait!
An added bonus is that I get to do almost all this with Rick! He is definitely my favorite travelling companion! He will have to leave Tuesday - boohoo!
So I gotta go pack -- Blessings are coming!
Oh, Malaya -- when I get home Friday morning, I plan to pick you up from school -- let's go see Curious George, ok???? I miss you!

Young Mothers' Study Group

In 1998, 10 days after Jenny's wedding, I presented eight sessions at the Bible Teachers' Workshop at ACU. After one session a beautiful woman, Judy Beard, came up to meet me with her daughter, Kelly Jones. Judy was one of the shepherd's wives from Southside Church of Christ in Fort Worth. She was also one of the mentors for YMSG (Young Mothers' Study Group). They met once a month (mornings) in some of the older ladies' homes and had a speaker present a message centered on relationships, marriage, spiritual growth, and/or parenting. I presented my first lesson for them in the fall of '98 at Billie Goodrich's house. What a great group!
I continued going over once a year for 6 years until fall of '04 when they asked me to come once a month! My blessing - totally!!! And we switched it to night!
So many inter-weavings! Only God could have held the knitting needles on this intricate plan!

Scott and Tonia Beard (Judy's son and daughter-in-law) live in Trophy Club. Tonia joined a community Bible study at my house when we lived in Trophy Club. We became dear friends!
In Dec. '04, Kelly Jones (Judy's daughter) asked me to present a series of lessons at Decatur Church of Christ for a community project. I fell in love with the community. Jeff, Kelly, Corey, and Josh are now our special Wednesday-night-eat-out-friends! (Jeff was extremely instrumental in convincing Rick to give Decatur a 'look'.)
Donny and Marcy Edwards (Judy's youngest daughter and son-in-law) were on the search committee that invited Rick to submit his resume at Decatur. We love watching them parent their four boys!
And Wes and Judy Beard are some of the most special people in the world to me! I LOVE them both! Last weekend I did a retreat for Southside and drove an hour to and from the encampment Friday and an hour on Sat morning -- only to discover Sat afternoon that the encampment was only 35 minutes from my house! But all so I could spend the night and hang out with Judy Beard a little bit more! (We rarely have had a moment alone!) (Wes greeted us at the door at midnight and had a snack ready for us to munch so we could visit a bit more!)

And now... (drum roll, please), my son, Josh, with his precious wife, Kayci, will be in town this weekend to try out for the preaching job at Southside! Could it be????

YMSG is one of my most favorite nights of the whole month! I am blessed to be part of this little group of women who loves the Lord intimately and each other intensely!
Thank you Chris Sawyer for starting this group years ago! Thank you Judy, Pat, and Emily for continuing on! I love you more than I have the verbal skills to tell you!

More blogs coming on this wonderful group of sisters!

It's a boy!

Jonathan and Jennifer had a sonogram today and results were clear - we are having a BOY! YEA! Jennifer is due June 8 and we are counting down the days. When I was on the phone today with my dad, he was just cackling about his grandchild being a father. Dad said that it seems absolutely like yesterday that Jonathan was running around playing with his toy guns - now he is getting ready to be a 'papa'. (My dad's dad was known as Papa - that has always been our special family name for fathers.)
Jonathan and Jennifer will be excellent parents! I am so proud of both of them and their love for the Lord!
I can't wait to share life with this little one. I can't to hold him - to rock him - to laugh with him - to hear his sweet little giggle. I can't wait to hear him claim Jesus as Lord. I can't wait to...
This grandparenting thing is way too much fun!
Oh - Jedidiah is the chosen name - 'loved by the Lord' - I LOVE that name.
I need to go shopping!!!!!

Ms. Metzger finds the Lord!

I had something on my mind earlier this morning to blog about today - it has totally evaporated! So, in my dedication to blog more frequently (ha!), I am going to share some random thoughts that I don't want to forget.
--
Tonight, Rick is taking Malaya on a date! They are going out to eat and then to Blockbuster to choose a movie. How cool is that! He is so excited! She is a great date for a Friday night of fun!
--
I am doing a retreat tonight and tomorrow for Southside in Fort Worth. I pray the Lord will just be HUGE as we focus on God's Story Through the Lives of His Daughters. Tonight we will be glimpsing into the lives of the 5 women in the geneology of Jesus (and in the Word that is all we have - a small glimpse into each - no details - boohoo): Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Isn't it just the coolest thing ever -- that God carries His story on through us!
--
I am on my way to Wal-Mart to get Flat Stanley's pictures developed. Do you know the story - the little boy that gets smashed when the bulletin board falls on him. He loves to travel! He went with me last weekend to Salado to a ladies' retreat. We had a blast! He had his picture made with John Wayne's saddle. Will Malaya's kindergarten class know who John Wayne is????
--
Dad is scheduled to come home today! I know Mom is exhausted - spending 17 days in Tyler. Louis and Jane Jones (Jeff's parents) have been so wonderful to my parents. I love the fellowship of believers!
--
Drum roll, please! The best news ever! Most of you know I went to Germany in November for a mission trip. Messages circulated this last week: The manager of hotel came to the States to find out more about Jesus. She said her life has been forever changed because of the family love she witnessed. She was baptized last night into the Lord Jesus! YEA!!!!! How coool is that?!?!?!!?
Thank You, Father, for allowing us to cross paths with her at just the right time!!!! You are amazing like that! Thanks, Lord, for the story you will tell through her! - Your awesome story!

I am a blessed child!

Thank you so much for your sweet prayers, notes, calls, etc. following my Dad's surgery. He did great for the two days immediately following his surgery then the pain meds did a number on him and the oxygen level of his blood went way down. He has spent a week recovering from that trauma. Today has been his first good day. YEA!
I do feel so blessed to have a dad like mine. There is a proverb that I want to dedicate to him. Proverbs 20: 7 reads "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."
One of my most treasured memories growing up is listening to my parents whisper their prayers after the lights were out. Our only cooling was an attic fan so we all slept with our doors open. Late into the night I could hear my mom and my dad whisper my name to the Lord. I never want to forget that precious sound!
I am traveling tomorrow morning to Salado to do a retreat with the Crestview Church of Christ from Waco. I am so delighted! I was with them a few years ago and loved it! The topic is "Light the Fire" and it has been a total blast to write! Can't wait to present!

Dad's Surgery

One of my new year's goals has been to blog more! It still is my goal even though I have been so crummy at it so far. BooHoo!
My dad is having major back surgery tomorrow morning. My sister and I will be with him and my mom tomorrow - I will stay for a few days.
Please pray for the doctor's hands and for Dad's recovery. Please pray for my mom - this has been so stressful for her.
Thank you, sweet friends!

Happy New Year!!!

What a major blessing the last two weeks have been! I never want to forget them! Sounds of laughter everywhere; great food; sweet talks; tea parties; warm hugs; warm weather (I love it!); Mexican food in San Antonio! Oh, my! This list could get really long! Blessings! Blessings! Everywhere!
We spent from Wednesday - Friday in San Antonio with Josh and Kayci. They went for the Alamo Bowl game - the Cornhuskers won! Yea! We had a blast! Even traveling on 35 South - looking for other Big Red fans was an experience! (I wish so much we had a sign to share with other Christians like that. I wish we had a rush of excitement when we found fellow-travelers to heaven.) Thanks, J and K, for inviting us! I LOVED seeing the riverwalk during the Christmas holiday! I LOVED where we stayed and having time to spend with the Lord and writing my goals for '06. I want to be more intentional than ever in this new year.
I want to continue my study of Luke - I want to KNOW Jesus! I want to love people the way He would. I want to see people through His eyes. I want to introduce people to Him. I want to share in His compassion. I want to speak words - enthusiastic words - of hope, joy, and mercy.

And a great time was had by all!

I love reading small town newspapers! The articles always seem to end with the line contained in this title - I just LOVE it when 'a great time was had by all' - and that describes our family's Christmas of '05! This was our year to be together on December 24-25 to celebrate! Great delight! My parents were here and all the kids! My sister and her family came over for Sunday! We all worshipped together Sunday morning - except poor Jenny who got really sick the night before - boohoo!
This time of year always brings on times of reflection -- so I want to share one of my 'ah-ha' moments with you.
When it finally struck me Christmas was on a Sunday, I moaned out loud. What a crimp it would be to have to rearrange the opening of gifts and the 'big meal' to go to church. (When your husband is the preacher, I felt it would be totally inappropriatae to .. well, you know, just not show up!) I was excited when the announcement was made that we weren't having class. But then the reflection began - is there any place I would rather be to celebrate the Lord's birth than with my family.
This last year has stirred in me a much deeper appreciation for God's idea of 'church family'. You know I have always loved it but now I really, really take delight in it. I am so grateful! So ... it was a perfect year for Christmas to be on a Sunday! So with my physical family surrounding me, I also spent a little time hugging on and laughing with my church family.
I wish Christmas always came on Sunday! The highlight: spending time worshipping the One I love with the people I hold DEAR!
Thank You, Father, for the joy of Your Son. Thank You for binding me with together with others who adore You and claim You as Lord! Thank You for the gift of Sunday; the gift of communion with You and a family; the gift of Your perfect Son - our Lamb, Whose blood links us as blood relatives! Thank You, Father, for my family!

A Christmas Tag for fun and A Christmas Thought for Real!

Here is a Christmas Tag game my daughter had on her blog and I thought it would be fun to add to mine!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Rick wraps each gift more meticulously than you can even imagine but the gifts Santa leaves hie gifts unwrapped.That's the way we know which gifts he brings on his sleigh and which ones are from us!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Absolutely WHITE which my son-in-law puts up beautifully! (He does the colored ones too but just wanted to give hime a little advertisement for a little business he helps Rusty with during the holidays!)
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but I think I will for next year - with a timer!
5. When do you put your decorations up? As soon as possible after Thanksgiving!
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Any thing Mexican - oh yeah, that is my favorite all year too!
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? waking up to see what Santa brought!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? We never discussed it! I have no idea when or how! I was afraid if I admitted anything he would stop coming!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? As a child, we always opened everything on Christmas Eve and then Santa came Christmas morning but...that's not how Rick's family did it. So, of course, being the ever-submissive wife that I am, we switched and I love the switch! But...this year, we are switching back to eve just because Christmas is on Sunday!
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Usually sugar but we always leave candies too.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT
12. Can you ice skate? I tried it once but my friends had to come get me (instead of just skate around me laughing, when the 'big machine' was wanting to clean and smooth the ice - the 'big machine' got tired of waiting on me to move out of the way.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Christmas is full of favorites!
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my family and taking great delight that we all love the One that we celebrate!
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Fudges, candies, etc.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Gettting all the lists together; shopping with Jenny and Rick; going to James Avery; buying ornaments; cooking candies
17. What tops your tree? a star
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? for sure giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? O Holy Night; MWS's Gloria; Mary Did You Know
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? They are ok.

Feel free to join the fun! All you do is Copy and Paste; then change the answers!

Just a thought for real! Yesterday, we met Rick's brother in Waco (he's from Florida and we haven't seen him in forever!) We had a great time! At the table next to us was an older group - as one of the men was leaving, he turned to Malaya and said, "Merry Christmas, honey, none of this 'Happy Holiday' stuff for me!" I said, "Merry Christmas to you too! We believe in Jesus too!"

I have to tell you - I am not one bit sad about the rest of the world changing up their terminology about December 25. I am great with Target or whoever else saying "happy holidays". Whether they say 'Merry Christmas' or not does not mean they love Him or that they choose to serve Him. In my little opinion, Christians must stop fighting for what we want the world to say and concentrate our energy on radiating His Light! Radiating Him - to show that the love of the Lord is the only way out of darkness. A Christian's anger or sarcastic tone is not a light but a great big squelcher to getting out the news that Christ loves us! I'm afraid sometimes people run from Christ because they don't want to develop the spirit of some Christians! May we dedicate ourselves to radiating His love and show people how to really celebrate our risen Lord!

So Merry Christmas, sweet friends, and may these words be the distinguishing mark for believers!

Anna was baptized!

In February, the Decatur Church of Christ invited me to speak at a community ladies' day as a fund raiser for WARM (Wise Area Relief Mission) - that was before they were considering Rick and before he was considering coming here. The WARM representative leading the day was a precious woman, Anna. We really hit it off - I was so impressed with her heart for the poor.
When Decatur called us to consider the preaching job, my fire was so lit to get to know Anna better. I told several people that I was attracted not only to the church family but also to the community.
When I started teaching the Wednesday night ladies' Bible class in September, Anna came! She and Jerry have been coming on Sundays and Wednesdays for a while. We have been so blessed by having them! She even came to our retreat! Two Sundays ago, I began teasing them - when the visitors were asked to stay seated, they stood! They invited us over, along with Jeff and Kelly Jones, to study with them Sunday night. They both have such a heart to know Jesus! Yeah, I didn't make a mistake with the wording - they invited us to study! They fed us royally and we discussed the Lord. Rick left several verses on baptism. Anna is a student! The Jones' went back over Monday night to answer more questions. Tuesday, Kelly called with the news! Anna woke up Tuesday morning wanting to be baptized into the Lord Jesus! Tuesday night, at the Isham's hot tub, Jeff Jones did the honors! ( We love our friends, Jeff and Kelly. What a blessing to share life with them!)
Anna, we love you! and cannot wait to witness how the Lord will use you and mold you in days to come! Welcome to our church family! Welcome to the journey!
I love this church! I love this community!

A Gift!

I started out for work this morning after listening to the weather report but didn't get far into my trip. A few - a very few - miles out of town it started to sprinkle a little - not a big deal - turn on the old reliable wipers - but they were not working right. Aren't they made to take ice off too?!?!?! The 'rain' was freezing! A rare sight for this little Texas girl. I pulled over for a minute to let my defroster do its thing. But the second time it happened I decided to head for the warmth of my home. My heart began to race - I am soooo excited. I few phone calls with clients to cancel our appointments - then - let the fun begin! I can undo the last of the boxes today! I am cooking for the second time in my new house! Chili, of course. (Yes, I know I have lived here over a month - but...)
Today, I want to have some time catch up but I also want to spend some time with my 'honey'! When I walked in the door last Thursday night from a late night in the office - about 10 - Rick was sitting in his chair watching tv, looking very sad. I kissed him and went to get my supper - I realized he had eaten 1/2 of his supper, waiting for me to finish. He said, "You know, we bought this house so we could enjoy it together. Instead, I am enjoying it all alone."
I realized right then that I have been working way too many late nights. I have been way too busy! It hit me like a ton of bricks. I spend a lot of time in my life helping people understand how to nurture their marriage relationships. I refuse to neglect mine! This was such a wake up call for me!
I am grateful for the gift of today that I can spend time with Rick. I love you, honey, and want to be a very present wife! It really is the desire of my heart.! I love you!

A Mother's Heart

I had a sign that once was taped on my fridge that read, "making the decision to have a child is like making the decision to forever have your heart go walking around outside your body." What do you think? There is something about that mother-child bond that I don't have the verbal skills to say any better than that!
Yesterday, my daughter wrote a blog that has touched many. When she was little and hurt, I had so many choices of ways to make her feel better. She loved to sing, she loved to cuddle, she loved a good snack, she loved to go visiting or have a friend over. But now she is a beautiful young woman - and it not a skinned knee anymore, it is a hurting heart! And I can't 'fix it'! and her dad and I are so frustrated that we can't take away our little girl's hurt!
Please check it out: www.kindermommy.blogspot.com.
Please join our family in praying! Jenny and David are raising our precious Malaya to love the Lord and we all anticipate the day she professes Him as her Lord! We would be delighted for more children to come into their home to join us in bringing praise to the One we serve!

Father God, Giver of all that is good! I have been praising Your name since my head was still on my pillow this morning. I love You and I am learning to trust You! Your history with our family has been rich! Please, Father, please bless Jenny and David with another baby. Please, God, fill her womb with life. We choose to continue to love You no matter what; we choose to worship You no matter what; we will continue to praise Your Name because You are worthy. We know that You are the One we need, that You hold the miracle. Please, Lord, touch us with it! Holy Spirit, thank You, that You will clean up this prayer and make my groanings understandable to the Lord! See me heart, Oh Father - hear the words of my heart!
In the blessed name of Jesus, Amen and amen.

Today is my spiritual birthday!

November 26, 1967, at ten years old, I walked to the front of our church building, in LaMarque, Texas. Bob Johnson (known to me then as "Brother Bob") asked me if I was ready to make Jesus Christ the Lord of my life - I said 'yes'. Did you catch it? I was ten years old! But I could not and I still cannot imagine my life without Him! I was blessed to grow up in a home where both my parents knew the Lord and talked of an active relationship with Him.
The push to walk down the aisle however came when, between Bible class and worship that day, Bunny Bryce firmly told me she was going to 'go forward' that morning. Well, why not today!?!?! (get it, kind of like 'why not tonight?) I knew I loved Jesus; I knew I wanted to wear His name; I knew I wanted to be clean to God; and I knew that on my own, I was stinky. I knew enough to KNOW that I needed a Savior.
After 38 years of walking with Him, I know now that I had no clue how desperate for a Savior I was. I LOVE that God does His cleansing even when we have no clue. I LOVE that I don't have to understand His love, His grace, or His mercy. I LOVE that He simply has called me to rest in them. There is nothing that I have to 'get' except that He is God and that I am not. He gets it and I don't - but I get Him! (a quote from Mike Cope at Stream, 2005) I LOVE that everytime I come to an 'ah-ah' (a time when I learn something new) moment with Him, I don't have to climb back in the water to receive His forgiveness. I LOVE that He continually cleanses me - even though I don't understand Him! My salvation is all wrapped up inHis work - NONE of my own.
I feel so blessed to have been raised in a family that honors 'spiritual' birthdays. This morning, I woke up at my parents' house (we were still there for Thanksgiving). My parents both greeted me with a Happy Birthday. What a blessing! Not only do they honor the day my body breathed its first breath of life, but they honor the day my soul was gifted with the Breath of Heaven! Thank you, Mom and Dad! Thank you for teaching me so much about the real Gift of Life!

I come to the Lord with a heart FULL of thanksgiving!

We are leaving a little after noon today to go to my Mom and Dad's house for the holiday. Malaya spent the night and she is going with us; Jenny and David are coming later.
I love this time of year! We did our first real Christmas shopping trip yesterday. The sales hadn't started yet but who has time to wait?!?!?!!?
As I reflect back on this last year, I am so grateful that the God I serve is moving, is constantly revealing His power and might -- and that He is faithful! That He lovingly blesses His children with His presence!
This has been a year full of His presence! I am thankful!
For my children - all six of them - being such reflections of the Lord's love to us.
For my little granddaughter, Malaya, and the rich joy she brings to my life! I love being her Grammy! and I can't wait to be a Grammy to our new forming little one! (Can't wait until June!)
For my new church family! What a blessing to be part of a church family where we feel so loved and affirmed by the leadership! And so many brand new friends!
For the ministry, Come before Winter, and all the new friends that have come as a result of our travel! I LOVED our team! and made so many new precious friends from Europe! Makes the anticipation for heaven swell!
For God's Word - I love the age-old treasures found in it!
For music to praise Him! I LOVE to sing to Him!
For my wonderful husband! I adore him! He truly completes me! The Lord constantly uses Rick to bless me!
I am grateful that God has called me His own and constantly works in me - that He chooses to use someone like me! He knows all my 'stuff' - and still calls me to shine for Him - using the Light of His love to do it! Amazing!

I'm home and now awake enough to write!

Wow! Thanks so much to those of you who lifted our trip to the throne room of the Lord!!! He was His usual Faithful Self and covered this trip with blessing! He was HUGE for us and totally amazing! I don't know where to start!
This trip was a first for me is so many, many arenas. I have never travelled with a team of women that our only link was that we are all crazy about God. That was an especially rewarding experience. I'm not sure I have ever laughed more and cried more and felt more totally 'at home' in my whole life! I LOVE my new friends! God bound us up tight!
And the missionary women! Oh my! How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news! These women put a whole new meaning on the word 'sacrifice'! They are amazing instruments on the altar of God! I really wanted to bring several home with me! I loved worshipping with them, praying over and with them, studying God's word with them, reading with them, and, of course, partying with them!
Germany is beautiful! So sharp in color! Lots and lots of flowers! Gorgeous! On the Saturday before we left to come home, we toured Martin Luther's home and the church where he hung his 95 theses. He was buried inside that church. We surrounded his grave and sang - in four part harmony - A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Talk about history coming alive! Sweet moment!
I am delighted to have gone and delighted to be home - home with my brand new Decatur sisters. God has been so sweet to me! (I think I have said that a lot recently.)
Thank you, Father, for the gift of friendship. On the other side of Your world, I now I have brand new friends that I will get to party with in heaven when we all speak the same language! I saw you, Father, in their eyes and in their tears! I can't wait to share moments in life with them again!
And in Decatur, I have brand new friends to share part of this journey! Help us, Father, to step in closer to You each time we hang out!
Oh, Father, what a blessed woman I am to have a family who professes You as the Holy One! Thank you for their faithfulness in prayer over my trip. I am glad to be home and back in my husband's arms! I missed his kisses!
I am blessed, Lord! Thank you for this new chapter opening with such a 'bang'! I love to be 'wowed' by You. Only You can do it this wonderfully! Thank You, Lord! Thank You!

Prayer Warriors Unite!

Well, November 4 is almost here! I leave tomorrow afternoon for a mission trip with a group called Come before Winter. I am delighted to have this opportunity. I will be traveling with 13 'girlfriends' to Germany to facilitate a weeklong renewal for missionary women from several locations in Europe. We each have been asked to have our friends and family lift us up in prayer during the prep time and during the journey. I am reminding those who I have previously asked and soliciting more prayer covering beginning tomorrow. While this trip has been planned for more than a year and a half - I had no idea how it would all unfold. My prayer requests have been turned in long ago but I had no idea what a turn my life would take in the last month: I have sold a house, bought a house, had surgery, and moved - all since October 7! Craziness! (as my son Josh would say). But the Lord has so got my back - He has been soooo sweet to me! Oh, I could go on and on about how at home I have felt today - at home in my new house, with my friends, in my own skin! At home because I KNOW He is in my heart! Wowsie-powsie!
This could get really long - I'll journal tomorrow so I don't forget a thing - maybe a future blog --but for now, my prayer requests:
PLEASE PRAY--
*for Rick while I am gone.
*that my ministry will be a sweet and fragrant aroma to the Lord.
*that the flights to and from Germany will be free of anxiety -- and motion sickness!
*that the Spirit will fill me with wisdom and discernment in all my interactions with the women on my team and the missionaries who attend. I want to be a Proverbs 11:25 kind-of-girl!
*for my mom and dad (my dad is not doing very well - I pray he will not be in pain and that his health will improve asap)
*for my new church family! - Please join me in thanking the Lord for bringing us together!
*that the Lord will just be HUGE for us!
Thank you so much!
Can't wait to write more on November 14 - my first day home!
I love you, my friends!

Happy Birthday, David

Today we celebrate! (We really did on Saturday because of the hustle and bustle of this week.) We are so thankful that David Shawn Bizaillion is part of 'us'! He is amazing! The list would be too long to blog if I attempted to list all the things my son-in-law does for us but -- even with all he does (did I already say it is a LOT) -- nothing compares with his sweet servant heart! David is a joy - he is full of rich wisdom! David, today we praise God for your life! Oh, yeah, I do that every day but today more than ever! Happy, happy 31st!
Thanks for being such a fabulous husband for our precious Jenny! Thanks for being such an awesome daddy to our angel, Malaya! Thanks for your quest to know the Lord better! Thanks for enjoying life! And thanks for sharing ours!