Wordless Wednesday....almost!

I know this is supposed to be wordless but I had to share what God has done. Above is our dear precious friend, mentor and father figure Alan. He has written a book and it is due out very soon. 2 weeks ago he become ill while at their cabin in Arkansas. They thought it was maybe just a bad flu or that he had hurt his back. He became worse and they ended up taking him to the hospital. They had come to Texas for the weekend for Fathers Day weekend so they were home and surrounded my family and friends. The Doctors did test after test and had no idea what was wrong. They sent in specialist and still nothing was coming back positive. He was literally at deaths door for a couple of days. He ended up testing positive for West Nile. Today after 9 days he is being released from the hospital and is a walking miracle. The young and elderly (although he is only in his mid 60s) typically do not survive this......BUT GOD! We had the blessing of spending about an hour with him in the hospital this week and we were blown away. The look on his face was different. You knew he had been there. He spoke with TOTAL conviction and power. We are in total awe of what the Lord has done and SOOOO very grateful that our dear friend is still with us. This picture was taken when Sam was about 3 months old and Alan dedicated him.

A very special weekend..

This past weekend Trae took Jacob for his special guy weekend. It is something we do with our boys when they are 12-13 and Jacob was ready! He didn't know what he was in for but I do believe the Lord was preparing his heart. We went to church at 4pm on Saturday and the guys were going to leave from there for their time away. Jacob has never taken communion. He only drinks water and our church serves grape juice for communion. He has never pushed through that fear to go through with communion and I knew in my heart that it was his choice and that the Lord knows his heart. He wanted to do it but he didn't want to drink the juice. During worship they stopped to pass out communion and he decided right then and there that today he was going to take part. It made this mama cry to see the position of his heart and push through the fear. I am all about getting out of your comfort zone and facing your fears. While I can encourage and speak truth to him....it has to be his choice. To watch his face the moment after was priceless! He resembled someone who had just drank something very powerful!

Their weekend away was a success and Jacob enjoyed it! They stayed nearby in Fort Worth, did their sessions and projects (we use Passport To Purity), went out for some great meals and ended their time with 3 games of laser tag. You are supposed to give you teen something for them to remember their weekend by. We got Jacob an antique soldier than is plastic (something he collects) to remind him that he too is a soldier.

Sentimental Sunday....

This picture was taken a few years back at Pine Cove Family Camp. It is one of our favorites place on this planet. We are getting ready to go next month and prepare with excitement because we know what a special week awaits us. Actually that is what is always so beautiful about it....the known and the unknown. Each year we look forward to catching up with the families we haven't seen in a year, connect as a family and as a couple and leaving the daily routines at home. I have to admit that although I love cooking I love having a week with no cooking or clean up! We look forward to what awaits us and whatever the Lord might have planned for our week.

Happy Fathers Day to our dads!

Dream Father's Day!

For Father's Day I would love to offer my husband the perfect weekend! A beautiful trip to the ocean, filled with relaxation, fun and the perfect meal. That isn't going to happen this weekend BUT what is the most beautiful gift to us is that we are his dream. He doesn't have to have perfection, a grand gift or trip but he has us and we are his dream. His heart was to be married, have a family and walk in the fullness of the destiny God had for his life. This man blesses me beyond belief and to walk by his side is the best gift I could ever have. Happy Fathers Day sweetheart!

Sentimental Sunday....

I love anything old....especially pictures. This is a picture of my Grandma and Grandpa (my dads parents) in their younger years and they look carefree in love. I lost this Grandma when I was only 6 to cancer and it was the first funeral I ever went to. She was a beautiful woman who I wished I could have known more and many more years.

No pictures....

I replaced my laptop recently and my iphoto isn't up and running so I can't post new pictures. I am still taking them because the camera is just fine! So I have to be creative and do a post without pictures.

Mini updates-

Trae-Has to replant the front flower garden because he planted a flower that isn't up to his standard even after weeks of Miracle Grow.

Julie-Trying to figure out which summer project to tackle next! Many to do on the list and now I need time, energy and creativity to complete them....or at least a few of them!

Andrew-Is planning his trip to CA for this month and will be headed to Pine Cove next month with us for family camp.

Jacob-Went to his first "teen" party last night with a bunch of his homeschool friends. Can't believe I know have 2 teens. 2 teens + 1 toddler= fun and never a dull moment!

Sam-This week he has done so many new things. Started eating with a fork, said at last 5-6 new words and is still taking 2 naps a day for the most part! He will be 17 months in a week and is really connecting the dots.