Nothing

Sometimes...much more often than I ever would like to admint...I find myself working with all my might to obtain perfection in God's sight. Because I have forgotten that the bad things I do that nobody knows about, the thoughts that creep into my mind that are never spoken, the things that make so ashamed to see myself as a child of a Holy God, these unlawful deeds cannot and willnot change the way God percieves me.

“God saves by sheer grace, he cannot be manipulated by moral performance.”
Justin Buzzard

No matter how much my mind tries to lie, telling me that God does not love me. That is a lie not of the truth of the Word of God that is setting me free.

[33 ] Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34 ] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35 ] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36 ] As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
[37 ] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38 ] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39 ] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:33-39 ESV)

What I'm Thankful For

People have asked a lot what I'm thankful for. Pretty much I always give the same answer..."my family". However there is more to the story than just being thankful for my parents and siblings. This year I'm thankful for where I'm born in my family. It's an odd thing to be thankful for, but if you knew how ungrateful I used to be about my position in the birth order you would understand.

Our family goes like this; first came my two sisters than several years later came my 3 brothers, all about 4 years apart. Than when my mom's youngest was 6 when I was born. The oldest in our family was 21 one and just a few weeks away from marrying her best friend. I have absolutely no memories of my older sisters living at home, my other sister was married when I was 2.

I grew older and older, my other brother married and the nieces and nephews began coming in droves. I wished very hard that I had been a twin so there would be a companion for me as my brothers began leaving home. Suddenly when I was 14, I was a only child.

Something that is very funny is that I don't consider myself from a big family because I never remember us all being home together. I always wondered where I should fit myself in, with the nieces and nephews or my siblings? So, I began to long that I was from a "normal" family.

I did that until I saw how silly it was. I realized I had siblings who had far more years of experience than I, so I could could glean advice from them. I even had twice as many siblings because of my siblings in laws. As for little brothers and sisters? I've got 21 nieces and nephews, and counting:)

So that is why in every many words that I'm thankful for being the youngest in a very spread out family. I'm so thankful for God who puts us in just the right family:)

[16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16 ESV)

This Baby

A tiny little baby, with tiny toes and fingers, a baby that makes so little noise, but sometimes a lot. He has handsome head of reddish hair.

This baby, my brother's first son, my parent's 21st first grandchild, my nephew, is our biggest Thanksgiving blessing.

Very Proud Grandparents

Adoring Sisters

This baby may not know it yet, but he is loved very, very much.

Pictures by Mom

Anticipation

I'm anticipating...

...the arrival of my little nephew, it appears he is waiting till I get home for Thanksgiving, but really I would be just as happy if he came perhaps today. And I can already say he will be my handsomest littlest nephew yet:)

...going home for thanksgiving! I cannot simply wait to see my family, the ones who I love very much. To make a pie and than eat it. To sleep in my own bed and sit in a quiet room and just read. To take a long walk with my mom and tell her all the things my brain dwells on before my eyes shut with sleep.

...the first snow! I know there was a dusting just a week a go, but I look forward to the morning when I peek out the blinds and see everything covered in pure whiteness. And than I will exclaim for joy because this KS girl loves snow.

...the day when every last bit of homework is permanently done. Sadly that is over a year and half away; sadly I will blink and the day will be here.

Being a Farm Girl

One year ago...

My dad sold his farm, so now when I go home I'm no longer a farm girl. I do not drive tractors anymore which is a probably a very good thing because I could never figure out if I should use gear 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, or 8. Nautually of course I would try them all which probably was not a wise choice because the tractor would not move. Sometimes much to my dismay the tractor would lurch into the air, which made me quite frightened and instilled in me a great respect for John Deere tractors.

Now I don't sort hogs or help work cattle. I don't really miss the cattle, they were so much bigger than I and I'm quite sure they could tell how terrified I was of them. And I don't think they really appreciated it when I would give them a shot in the wrong place. Those silly cows never seemed to understand that when I wanted them to move I did not mean for them to run around me in circles. Of course they did try to show their appreciation by leaving numerous "gifts" for me on the ground. I'm afraid though I was quite ungrateful towards their efforts.

I admit I was not really all that great at being a farm girl. My poor father knew it too, but what was he to do with all the boys gone? I made great efforts towards being a farm girl which I was sure were heroic. The truth was though I was just a girl who liked cooking and eating beef more than raising it.




However, I will always consider myself a farm girl whether I look like one or not.

This is my Dad

This is my dad

Who can be very serious about his faith, life, his children, his work, but don't be fooled dad has an incredible sense of humor.

This is my dad who loves the woman he married, very, very much. And there is plenty of evidence to testify to this fact by dad's actions and words.




This is my dad who made sure he and I had plenty of time together working on the farm driving tractors and teaching me how to drive stick shift trucks. Poor dad had to pull start the truck several times one afternoon because I kept killing the engine. but I digress. This is my dad who took me and still takes me for that matter on special dates just with him.

Ladies and gentlemen this is my dad...
He lives his life as a citizen of heaven, but admits when he is wrong. My dad loves the Lord very much. Just watch his life sometime and you will see.

Happy 68th birthday to the best dad in the world. I know its an old saying, but it is true my dad is the best one for me.

And I feel very blessed to be the daughter of not only my earthly father, but also my heavenly Father.