The men in my life...

Well, God has blessed me with the best husband ever! I was gone this summer with Cassie for one month as we waiting on our 5 grandbaby to arrive and then stay a few days to help her adjust to the added family member...baby Camden...who is such a sweet baby boy..always happy and smiling...he is another added blessing to our lives that is for sure!!! Anyway, that month apart from Scott was eye opening for us both...I think God used that time to makes us aware to just what he has given us as a couple...a love that, after almost 28 years of marriage is truly genuine...it has taken us a lifetime together to finally learn that and then have that...not that we haven't always loved each other...but when life steps in and it gets hard...and God pulls you thru...then you understand genuine...we missed each other like crazy and learned to appreciate each other more...then when I came home Michael and Katie were gone to Germany for a month so...we got a picture of what our life will be like when they are all on their own...as a young mom I feared those days...I thought...what will we have in common and without the kids what in the world will we talk about...but you know...it was good and as bad as I fear the unknown of a completely empty nest...I look forward to those days for Scott and I...

My brother, Kevin, is a huge part of my life as well...there is 6 years between us...with him being the much OLDER one...and as we grew up...I was a little...bratty to him and needless to say we really didn't care much for one another...but one day I think we were both pleasantly surprised to find out that we love each other very much...he and Betty are more precious to me that words can express and I've watched God do amazing things in their lives...in many ways Kevin is a hero to me because the chances of us meeting God after a certain age drops...(that doesn't mean it's impossible...just drops)...and he beat the odds!!!

I spoke of my son and son in laws in the last post...so I'll just say...they continue to amaze me...each of them are very different and yet there is one scarlet thread that they all hold in common...the blood of Jesus...ties them together...

but now for the true reason for the post...the fathers God has place in my life...my Dad...has not been the greatest...although...I've heard enough stories in my lifetime to know he is by far not the worst either...he loves Kevin and I the very best he knows how...he was just never shown the best way to love...but we both pray for the Father of love to meet with him (for dad to beat the odds too) and for him to experience true love the for the first time in his life...however, with that said...I've learned over the coarse of the past year with dad that I care for him much more that I thought I did...and while growing up was hard...I'd do it all again...without regrets because my past God has used to make me into who HE desires me to be..so I'm thankful...no regrets...and I've stood by to many family members graves...knowing as much as another human being can know...that I'll never see them again...I don't want that with or for my dad...so I will choose to love him...isn't that what love is anyway...a choice not a feeling...and I will do my best to share Jesus with him...and so today God I say thank you for my dad...

However, their are two other men in my life that I couldn't be who I am today without and that is my step dad, Tucker and my other...extra dad, Harold...they are two of the most special people in my life...all three of my "dads" have given me a scare with their health this past year...my dad with the prospects of prostate cancer, Tucker with a stay in the hospital and worrying with his heart and Harold...with his heart and Colon cancer...I've learned to appreciate them so much more...These two men have taught me a visual picture of how God "adopts" us and joins us into His family...I know they love me and I know that I am their family just as much as those who they love and share a blood line with...I am a better person because of them and I neglect to tell them this...all my parents, my mom, tucker, dad, Harold and Jonell are all getting to the age I need to realize age is creeping up on them...Harold is the one in the hospital now and I've struggled yet again with the fact that...truth is I'm just not ready to face this with anyone of them...and I will NOT walk around in a constant state of fear because that is what the enemy of my soul would want...then my eyes are not place on the Throne of the ONE who IS in control...but I will appreciate them more...hugs are not my thing and if you know me you know that well...but I will try to hug more...and like the times I have with my children ALL together...soak it all in...thankful and grateful for these very special people God chose to place in my life...I didn't just get them...with tucker came my brother Steve and sister Karen and now Debbie is back in our lives...

So I'll end this post with a great big thank you JESUS for those people you place in our lives...those you planned to be a part of the tapestry of our lives before the foundation of the world...for those of you who I haven't spoke of today...and there are many of you...I love you and though hugs are not my gift...I'm sending one to you today...

2009,,,a memory

Here I sit...January 1, 2010 and the house is way to quiet! Cassie, Jesse and the boys left to go home about 2 hours ago and we have no noisy little boys running around the house. I could think of the year past and what we have learned thru the year...but I've shared it way more than most care to hear it this year! But I will say this has been a year like no other...

I have seen God move this year in such a HUGE way! I am amazed that He cares enough about us to allow us to be a witness to His majesty and greatness!

I've shared so much this year already so I just want to say thank You Lord for Your grace to go on...and for those of you who know me best you know ALL that I'm speaking of...

I've found myself looking at my family and friends and wondering just what this new year has for us! I believe it will be an exciting year to come with many great adventures...

I pray that I will learn to run the race with endurance this year and be willing to say whatever and where ever Lord you desire for myself and Scott....we will say Lord here we are...send us...

I'm also thinking that I mostly right about the girls and I forget or neglect the men in our lives...I'm thankful for them...for my son in laws who are like sons to me...for the fact that they both love my daughters very much and most of the time I can see that love they have for them in their eyes...(and when I don't I think it is b/c they are acting like their momma)...they both love the Lord and desire to see their homes under HIS Lordship...and for my son, Michael I am very thankful for...he takes good care the things around here when his dad is gone...I have a friend that says if you see how a man treats his mom, that is a good indication of how he will treat his wife...she will be cared for...He has made a decision for the Lord 2 weeks ago and now we watch his true walk begin...I can't wait to see this adventure...and for my husband...I love you! He is a godly man and a good man...he leads us in the ways of the Lord. he is a good husband, provider, father and grandfather...he is a great friend and a man that runs hard and fast after the Lord...

to you all I wish you the happiest of New Year...and pray blessings on you....