This trip Heather and the twins joined us along with Nanny and Gigi...this was the first trip for each one of them...I think they enjoyed the trip as well...there was a stomach bug in the house when we arrived but we loved on each other anyway!
Along with the b-day celebration we got to take the kiddos to the zoo one day and to the beach another day...all were good times with lots of sweet memories...I must admit my main thing I wanted to see...was all 5 of my grandchildren playing together...and boy did they...we had some adjustments to make but all in all...5 kids, 4 and under in a house for a week...did GREAT!!!! They are all so very precious to me...almost all can same some kind of Grammy now and I love hearing them say my name and more than that reaching for me...wanting and letting me love on them!
Camden enjoying his birthday cake!
on grammy's lap...so happy????
at the zoo
all 5 playing together
It was a good trip...I even did all the driving which if truth be told...it is again just a sign of my "control freak" personality...But I must say...I have yet to see my Jacksonville family that God hasn't taught me something and He has done that again...I'd like to share with you...praying God will use this in your life...as we played at the beach...Ayden had told me he and I would get some seashells off of the beach...but he got busy playing and forgot as did I...then just before we left I noticed how many there were right there in front of me...I began to pick them up walking down the beach...God began to speak...He is continuing to teach me to take my hands off of all the things in my life I'd held onto so tightly...all the things that to a degree I could be a control freak with...my husband, children...even my life...but He reminded me that He has other plans for our lives...beautiful plans if we will let HIM be in control...and that may mean He will scatter us as the seashells were scattered along the beach...but He has a purpose...a beautiful purpose...for some lost soul to be in just the right place at just the right time to see one of those seashells...for their lives, their paths to cross so He can change another life...and another...and another...so I picked up several shells and I've placed them on my table with the pictures of all the grandbabies...because I want them to serve me as a reminder that I must be willing to let God take them were He desires...for His greater glory...oh, and I know the waves will come and go...some to wash us clean and others hard and scary at times...but all under the control of the Father...I don't think this time the lesson was just about again...taking my hands off of the kids...(all the kids) but also to take my hands off of my desires and dreams...I think He is trying to teach me that I must let go of my life...lay it down and pick up His cross...follow Him...daily...a verse I've used recently...may it be my lifeline from now to eternity..."So I said, Here I am...send me..." Isaiah 6:8b...what is the "seashell" in your life that you need to surrender? I love you all...
